FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup 2025: India and Pakistan slotted in Pool B - check details

India and Pakistan have been drawn in the same pool of the upcoming FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup 2025, which will be played in Tamil Nadu state in India later this year. The pools were announced following the draw ceremony, which was held at the headquarters of International Hockey Federation at Lausanne, Switzerland.

Both India and Pakistan are drawn in Pool B alongside Chile and Switzerland. For the first time, 24 teams will be taking part in the tournament. The Junior World Cup will take place this year from November 28 to December 10. A total of 72 games will be played in Chennai and Madurai, India will host the 14th edition of this tournament for the third time after 2016 and 2021.

Three teams are playing the Junior World Cup for the first time

Bangladesh, Thailand and China will participate in their first Junior World Cup this year. Thailand earned the qualification despite finishing at the seventh place in the Junior Asia Cup 2024 because India as hosts automatically secured their spot in the tournament. The qualifications for the Junior World Cup got over post the Junior Africa Cup in April 2025 as South Africa, Namibia, and Egypt secured their spot in the Africa region.

Belgium, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Spain, Austria, and Switzerland have qualified from Europe. Argentina, Canada and Chile qualified from the Americas. Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, Japan, Malaysia, and Thailand secured qualification from Asia. Australia and New Zealand will be playing from Oceania.

Final groups for FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup

All the 24 contesting teams have been arranged in six pools, the complete list of the Pools is as follows:

Pool A

Pool B

Pool C

Pool D

Pool E

Pool F

India has lifted the FIH Hockey Men's Junior World Cup twice

India, a two-time champion, last lifted the title nine years ago in Lucknow and has reached consecutive semifinals in the recent editions of the tournament. Pakistan, on the other hand, won the inaugural edition of the tournament in 1979 but has not reached the semifinals since 1993, where it finished as runner-up.

Germany is considered as the most successful team in the Junior Men’s Hockey World Cup with seven titles. They are the defending champions as well, having beaten France by 2-1 in the 2023 final played in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.