Chennai, Sep 8 (IANS) Former winners India will start their campaign against Chile in the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup 2025 at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium in Chennai on November 28. Defending champions Germany will meet South Africa in the tournament opener in Madurai, as the 24-team mega event will be played at two venues in Tamil Nadu, as per the match schedule for the event released on Monday.

The marquee match between archrivals India and Pakistan will be played in Chennai on November 29.

The highly anticipated match schedule for the tournament was announced in a ceremony that took place in Chennai on Monday, with FIH President Tayyab Ikram in attendance, along with Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru Udhayanidhi Stalin, Hockey India President Dr. Dilip Tirkey, and Hockey India Secretary General Bholanath Singh.

The World Cup, which will see participation from 24 teams for the very first time, will be played in Chennai and Madurai from November 28 to December 10, 2025.

The 24 teams have been divided into six pools of four each.

Pool A comprises Germany, South Africa, Canada, and Ireland, while Pool B has hosts India, Pakistan, Chile, and Switzerland. Pool C has Argentina, New Zealand, Japan, and China; Pool D includes Spain, Belgium, Egypt, and Namibia; Pool E consists of the Netherlands, Malaysia, England, and Austria, while France, Australia, Korea, and Bangladesh form Pool F.

The announcement of the match schedule takes the tournament one step closer to the start of the biggest Junior World Cup in FIH history. It also clears many hurdles, as there were doubts that Pakistan may pull out of the event, refusing to travel to India, just like they did for the Senior Men’s Asia Cup that concluded in Rajgir in Bihar on Sunday. But the announcement of the match schedule confirms that Pakistan will be sending its team to India to play in the event.

Speaking at the ceremony, FIH President Tayyab Ikram said, “The launch of the match schedule for the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup Tamil Nadu 2025 marks another exciting milestone on our journey to this prestigious event.

“For the first time in FIH history, the Junior World Cup will feature 24 teams, which is a major milestone achieved under the FIH Empowerment and Engagement strategy. Not only does this underline the global growth and inclusivity of hockey, but it also gives the emerging hockey nations an opportunity to compete with the top established teams,” said the FIH President.

Minister for Youth Welfare and Sports Development & Deputy CM of Tamil Nadu, Thiru Udhayanidhi Stalin said: “With the fixtures now revealed, the excitement truly begins as fans can start anticipating some thrilling encounters in both Chennai and Madurai. Hockey holds a special place in the hearts of people in Tamil Nadu, and this event will further inspire thousands of youngsters to take up the sport. We are committed to working closely with Hockey India and the International Hockey Federation to ensure that this tournament becomes one of the most memorable editions in history.”

Hockey India President Dr. Dilip Tirkey said: “We are delighted that Chennai and Madurai will be hosting the historic edition of the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup, with 24 teams participating for the very first time. This is not only a proud moment for Indian hockey but also a landmark occasion for the global hockey community. The unveiling of fixtures adds to the excitement as we now begin the countdown to an event that will showcase the next generation of hockey stars to the world,” he added.

–IANS

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