Pakistan’s withdrawal from the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup has officially been confirmed, with the International Hockey Federation (FIH) announcing the replacement team for the upcoming global event, set to take place in India from November 28 to December 10.
The move follows the Pakistan Hockey Federation’s (PHF) decision last week, citing the ongoing diplomatic standoff with India. PHF President Tariq Hussain Bugti had earlier made it clear that sending national teams across the border was off the table due to the “existing security and political climate.”
The decision marks yet another setback in Pakistan-India sporting relations, which have deteriorated sharply this year amid heightened political and military tensions between the two neighbors. The fallout has already impacted cricket tournaments, and now hockey, once a unifying force in South Asia, finds itself caught in the crossfire.
In its official statement, the FIH confirmed that Oman would now fill Pakistan’s slot in Pool B, joining hosts India, Chile, and Switzerland. The federation clarified that Oman qualified as the next highest-ranked team from the Junior Asia Cup 2024, which served as the regional qualifying event for the Junior World Cup.
Here’s what the FIH Junior Hockey World Cup groups look like now without Pakistan:
| Pool | Teams |
|---|---|
| A | Canada, Germany, Ireland, South Africa |
| B | Chile, India, Oman, Switzerland |
| C | Argentina, China, Japan, New Zealand |
| D | Belgium, Egypt, Spain, Namibia |
| E | Austria, England, Malaysia, Netherlands |
| F | Australia, Bangladesh, France, Korea |
The group stage of the tournament will run from November 28 to December 2, followed by knockout matches from December 4 to 10.
Pakistan’s absence will be felt deeply — not just by fans, but by the global hockey community. The country boasts a proud legacy in the sport, with four World Cup titles and three Olympic gold medals. Yet in recent years, Pakistan has struggled to reclaim its former dominance, both on and off the field and this development doesn’t help its quest to get things back on track.