The FIH Junior Hockey World Cup 2025 is set to deliver high-octane action for Indian fans, with the tournament bringing together the best young talent from across the globe.
For the Indian junior men’s team, ranked World No. 2, the group stage offers both exciting opportunities and a historic first: a clash with arch-rivals Pakistan in the pool phase. India will begin their campaign on 28 November against Chile (ranked 18th) in Chennai, before taking on Pakistan (ranked 9th) on 29 November, also in Chennai. The third and final pool match will be played in Madurai on 2 December, against Switzerland (ranked 26th).
- 28 Nov: India 🇮🇳 (2) vs Chile 🇨🇱 (18) — Chennai
- 29 Nov: India 🇮🇳 (2) vs Pakistan 🇵🇰 (9) — Chennai
- 2 Dec: India 🇮🇳 (2) vs Switzerland 🇨🇭 (26) — Madurai
The back-to-back scheduling of the Chile and Pakistan matches in Chennai means India will have little time to rest before taking on their biggest rivals, adding intensity to an already charged contest.
A Historic First: India and Pakistan in the Same Pool
In the long history of the Junior Hockey World Cup, this will be the first time India and Pakistan find themselves in the same group. Both nations have rich hockey legacies, fierce senior-level rivalries, and passionate fan bases. Their meeting in the pool stage ensures the tournament will witness one of the most anticipated junior hockey matches in recent memory.
While India enter as the higher-ranked side and recent Asian powerhouse in junior hockey, Pakistan cannot be underestimated. Matches between the two nations often defy rankings, driven instead by intensity, skill, and national pride.
Ranked No. 2 in the world, India are among the favorites to challenge for the title. The team has consistently performed at the junior level, producing players who have gone on to shine in the senior squad. With a mix of proven U-21 internationals and emerging talent, India’s squad looks well-equipped for the tournament.
The group stage presents India with varied challenges:
- Chile, a rising side, will look to test India’s patience and structure.
- Pakistan, always dangerous, will push India in a high-pressure rivalry.
- Switzerland, relative newcomers at this stage, offer India a chance to consolidate momentum heading into the knockouts.
India’s first two matches will be staged in Chennai, a city with a growing reputation as a hockey hub, having hosted major Asian and international events in recent years. The final pool match against Switzerland shifts to Madurai, further spreading the excitement of the Junior World Cup across Tamil Nadu. The use of two cities reflects the tournament’s effort to grow hockey beyond traditional centers and create fresh fan bases in different regions.
For India, topping the group will be crucial. Doing so ensures a more favorable draw in the knockout rounds and builds confidence for the tougher tests to come. The key fixture will undoubtedly be the clash with Pakistan, which may decide the group winner. India’s ability to manage back-to-back games against Chile and Pakistan will also be a key test of fitness and squad depth. Coaches will need to rotate players smartly while maintaining intensity across both matches.
The India-Pakistan rivalry is one of world hockey’s greatest stories. At the senior level, the two nations have met in countless high-stakes encounters, from Olympic matches to Asian finals. At the junior level, however, opportunities have been rare. That makes this group-stage clash historic. For players, it will be an early taste of the intensity and emotion that define international hockey’s biggest rivalries. For fans, it is a chance to witness the next generation carrying forward the legacy.
Road to Knockouts
Should India progress beyond the group stage, their opponents in the quarterfinals will depend on crossover results from other pools. With teams like the Netherlands, Germany, and Australia traditionally strong at the junior level, India will need to hit peak form at the right time. Still, the group assignments mean India will have at least one high-pressure game (vs Pakistan) before the knockouts, a valuable test of character and preparation.
The FIH Junior Hockey World Cup 2025 promises to be a landmark tournament for India. Ranked No. 2, the team enters as a strong medal contender. But the real headline is the historic pool-stage clash with Pakistan set to take place on 29 November in Chennai marking the first time the two rivals meet in the group stage of this competition. With Chile and Switzerland completing the pool lineup, India have a clear path to the knockouts. Yet, as history has shown, rankings alone don’t decide results in junior hockey. Consistency, composure, and the ability to thrive under pressure will be key.
For Indian hockey fans, the countdown is already underway. November 29 is circled in red: the day when the next generation of Indian and Pakistani hockey players take center stage in one of the sport’s greatest rivalries.
