Pakistan pull out of Junior Hockey World Cup in India

According to reports, the Pakistani Federation have demanded a neutral venue.

Pakistan have officially withdrawn from the FIH Men’s Junior Hockey World Cup 2025, which is scheduled to be held in Chennai and Madurai from November 28 to December 28. The confirmation came from the International Hockey Federation (FIH) on Friday, October 24.

In a statement shared with PTI, the FIH said, “We can confirm that the Pakistan Hockey Federation has notified the International Hockey Federation (FIH) that its team initially qualified for the upcoming FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup Tamil Nadu 2025 won’t participate eventually.”

The governing body also mentioned that Pakistan’s replacement for the tournament will be announced shortly. “The team replacing Pakistan for this event will be announced soon,” the statement added.

Pakistan had featured in the previous edition of the Junior World Cup held in Bhubaneswar in 2021, where it finished 11th.

The withdrawal comes amid continuing strain in sporting relations between India and Pakistan, particularly following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and India’s military response under Operation Sindoor.

The tense political and diplomatic atmosphere has limited bilateral sports engagements between the two countries in recent years, extending its impact to international tournaments hosted in India.

Groups for Hockey Junior World Cup 2025

The upcoming Junior Hockey World Cup will see 24 teams competing across six groups in Tamil Nadu, with matches split between Chennai and Madurai. India, the hosts and 2021 semi-finalists, are placed in Group B, while defending champions Germany headline Group A.

The detailed groupings, including the team that will replace Pakistan, will be confirmed once the FIH finalizes the new lineup following Pakistan’s withdrawal. The tournament promises to showcase the next generation of hockey talent, as nations gear up for one of the biggest events in the junior hockey calendar.

FIH Junior Hockey World Cup 2025 Groups:

Pool A: Germany, South Africa, Canada, Ireland

Pool B: India, Chile, Switzerland, TBD

Pool C: Argentina, New Zealand, Japan, China

Pool D: Spain, Belgium, Egypt, Namibia

Pool E: Netherlands, Malaysia, England, Austria

Pool F: France, Australia, Korea, Bangladesh

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