Pakistan and India’s sporting destinies seem to be intertwined, with the latest evidence being the Junior Hockey World Cup draw, which will pit the old rivals against each other once more.
Set to take place in Tamil Nadu, India, the expansive tournament will run from 28 November to 10 December 2025 across two Indian cities, Chennai and Madurai.
The draw ceremony, conducted today in Lausanne, Switzerland, confirmed that the traditional rivals will face each other in Pool B alongside Chile and Switzerland. It marks the first time the Junior World Cup will feature 24 nations, underscoring the International Hockey Federation’s (FIH) push to grow the sport’s footprint globally.
Any India-Pakistan hockey fixture carries immense significance—whether at the senior or junior level—butconcerns over Pakistan’s participation in India remain.
The rest of the competition pools reflect a broad geographic spread:
Germany enter the Junior Hockey World Cup as defending champions, having claimed their record seventh title in 2023 while Pakistan will be looking for its second title.
With Pakistan and India set to clash in the group stage, excitement is already building for what promises to be a showcase of emerging hockey talent and a celebration of the sport’s rich traditions. The exact match dates and times will be confirmed in the coming months.
As preparations gather pace, Pakistan’s junior squad will be aware that a strong showing against India could mark a turning point for a program eager to recapture the country’s once-dominant standing in world hockey.