BY MANINDERJIT SINGH (MIKE) ROAD TO FIH MEN'S WORLD CUP 2026 – UNDERSTANDING THE PROCESSES & MALAYSIAN HOCKEY CHANCES

Warm Greetings to all my ardent readers and hockey supporters in Malaysia and the rest of the world. Been busy involved with Astro broadcasting team for the recent FIH Nation Cup in Kuala Lumpur and hope everyone enjoyed our insights and analysis on the tournament. It was well organized and well done to those involved.

There was a lot of confusion and explanation about the Road to Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026, therefore, I have decided to pen down the detail understanding of the processes and also provided some assumptions on the probable teams and their chances.

Let’s start…..

The 2026 Men's FIH Hockey World Cup will be the 16th edition of the Men's FIH Hockey World Cup, the quadrennial world championship for men's national field hockey teams organized by the International Hockey Federation. It will be held from 14 to 30 August 2026 in Wavre, Belgium and Amstelveen, Netherlands.

The Malaysian Women Team would not have any chance to qualify - even at FIH Nation Cup 2 (Tier 3 International event after Pro League & Nation Cup 1) in Poland, we managed to secure 7^th place out of 8 teams – generally we may play in the Qualifiers and to make it, the chances are very very very slim….Thats the reality.

Let’s discuss about the Malaysian Men’s Hockey – Road to World Cup 2026. Many hockey fans and stakeholders with former international has spoken and provided solutions of the current predicaments of Malaysian Hockey Team. Some are good and some are bad, some are happy and some are not happy. Ok keep this discussion away and let’s zoom in to the Road to 2026 FIH World Cup – crucial 7 months.

If it’s a 12 Teams as many years ago – Malaysia Hockey can say Goodbye and we must say thanks to FIH for expanding the number of teams – 16 Teams since last 3 World Cups since 2018. Our results we finished second last in all 3 editions 2014, 2018 and 2023 FIH World Cup. Best Finish in 1975 no 4 and in 2002 no 8. These are the 2 best positions achieved in the last 15 World Cups editions.  

The Breakdown of the 16 Teams, see below the image for the explanation:

2 Host – Netherlands & Belgium

2 Pro League - Australia & one more by 30^th June – most probably Germany will take this slot.

5 Continental Championship

7 via World Cup Qualifiers.

There will be 2 doors to 2026 World Cup – win the Asia Cup in Rajbir, India August/September – India will win it to seal their spot and others like Pakistan, Korea has improved well.

We will end up playing the Qualifiers in World Cup – lets understand this door better as this is very crucial.

Teams Qualified via the FIH Hockey Men’s World Cup Qualification Tournaments 7 quotas. There will be 2 (two) FIH Hockey World Cup Qualification Tournaments, consisting of eight (8) teams each (16 teams in total), held in early 2026. The tournament format will be as follows:

• Two (2) pools of four (4) teams each;

• Semi-Final will be played by the top two (2) teams from each pool;

• Team not qualified to the semi-finals will play classification matches from 5-8

• Winners of the Semi-Finals are qualified to the FIH Hockey Men’s World Cup 2026

• Winners of the Bronze medal matches are qualified to the FIH Hockey Men’s World Cup 2026

• The highest World Ranked team (at midnight on the final day of the qualification tournaments) that finishes in 4th place in each Event will be also qualified to the FIH Hockey Men’s World Cup 2026.

The teams invited to participate in these FIH Qualification Tournaments will be based on continental quotas, determined by the number of nations from each continent who are World Ranked in the top 25 eligible nations on 31 January 2025.

From these 25 quotas, the continents of the nine (9) nations already qualified (the 2 hosts, the 2 FIH Pro League Qualified Teams and 1 from each of the 5 Continental Championships) will be removed, leaving 16 continental quotas. These 16 continental quotas will be filled by the highest finishing nations in each continental championship who have not already qualified for the FIH Hockey Men’s World Cup 2026. Based on the FIH World Rankings on 31 January, 2026.

Let’s workout the Assumptions:

Direct Slots:

Netherland, Belgium, Australia & Germany (TBC via Pro League)

India-Asia, Argentina-Pan Am, New Zealand – Oceania, S Africa – African & England – European

The balance 16 Teams for World Cup Qualifiers will be:

Spain, France, Ireland, Malaysia, Korea, Pakistan, Japan, China, Wales, Chile, Canada, Austria, Scotland, Poland, United States, Egypt – these teams will put in ranking order – on 1^st February 2026.

How the Seeding between the above 16 teams into 2 venue of 8 Teams:

The snake system will be used to allocate the 16 nations into the two FIH World Cup Qualification Tournaments, as shown below.

Snake system

Ranking order of 16 teams in the FIH World Cup Qualification Tournaments

Tournament A 1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 12, 13, 16

Tournament B 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 11, 14, 15

Note: If the 2 hosts are allocated by the snake system to participate in the same tournament, then the lower ranked of the two hosts will be swapped into the other tournament with the equivalent ranked team allocated to the other tournament.

From these 16 teams – the best seven (7) that has a chance to qualify are:

6 slots - France, Spain, Ireland, Pakistan, Korea, Malaysia – other slots will be from Wales, Chile, China, Canada & Scotland are the 2^nd best teams that could be the spoilers and steal slots. The rest is more of participations & exposure level.

 If 12 teams like previous World Cups – Malaysia no chance but 16 teams WC, still have a chance to be part of 2026 World Cup. But Austria, Chile, Wales, China, Scotland and Canada are vast improved team in World Hockey and the gap between them & us is getting very close and narrow over the years.

Let’s see the next 7 Months after finishing 6^th out of 8 at the FIH Nation Cup in KL recently – first will be the Asia Cup in Rajbir - 27 August to 7 September 2025.

Wishing the Men’s Malaysian Hockey Team, the very best and good luck in your preparation….

MANINDERJIT SINGH (MIKE)

Former Malaysian Hockey International - 1990-2002

Former Secretary General of Malaysian Hockey Confederation & Member of FIH "Think Tank" 2009-2012

MALAYSIAN HOCKEY – DUE TO WEAK CALENDAR PLANNING CREATES CONFUSION & UNWANTED ISSUES

MALAYSIAN HOCKEY – DUE TO WEAK CALENDAR PLANNING CREATES CONFUSION & UNWANTED ISSUES

These few days or rather few years ago till today, the key issue about planning of proper one final calendar for hockey tournaments  which includes Affiliates, Domestic & International tournaments such as Field Hockey, Indoor Hockey & Hockey 5s for both genders Men & Women that is creating a confusion & arguments within the stakeholders.

This one final calendar is the duty of the Office to prepare at least an Olympic Cycle – means 2024 to 2028 and encompasses the Contingent Events – SEA, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games & Olympic with AHF – Continental events (Senior & Junior) and with FIH events such as World Cup, Qualifiers, Nation Cup, Sultan Azlan Shah Cup & Sultan of Johor Cup for both Senior & Junior activities and to top up any test matches, friendly or Invitational tournaments. To top it up – not including the periodization plan for national teams and the EB, EGM, AGM, Coaching Courses and TO, Umpires Courses and etc etec….Its requires a huge brainstorming activity.

When I was holding the Office, we had a clearly defined Calendar from 2009 till 2012 and it takes 3 months to come up with this “One Final Calendar – One Olympic Cycle” - from Affiliation/State, National & International with all courses & meeting dates - Council, Monthly EB, EGM/AGM with FIH/AHF Congress. This is a prerequisite for preparing the cost which is the Annual Budget and how to source the funds via grants and sponsorship.

Now is the crunch of the matters that I want to make the key points on the current problem in the press and community of hockey fans:

Looking at above details, how are they're going to fit in all the above arrangements, do the people in-charge aware of this consolidation of “one final calendar”. Currently, every Chairman of each SubCom decides when to organize domestic and which international event to play and for sure they will be no coordination as most players, Umpires, Technical resources will be overlapping between cross the board which will create the chaos. And all the good Umpires still serving their bans and most events using lower grade Umpiring which also created many wrong decision and Clubs or State were not satisfied with the quality of Umpiring. This is the Duty of Office & EB to endorse “One Final Calendar – One Olympic Cycle”.

Simple example – during last Razak Cup, Junior players & Indoor players couldn’t play because of SOJC24 & Indoor World Cup preparation. Why? No coordination between SubCom and ad-hoc calendar which created the unwanted issues. Many talks about the issue but due to poor planning created the chaos.

And now the debate of priority – Club for MHL or preparation with Indoor World Cup gets the players to play?

You knew that Indoor WC was in FEB 2025 after qualifying in May 2024 but yet nobody saw this because of working in silos. Working in silos means team members are isolated from the team itself. It could mean individuals or entire departments are isolated from the rest of the business. These individuals and groups don't collaborate with others, which can eventually lead to a lack of communication.

My view – it’s the CLUB/Employer that gets the first priority. This statement is always been used over the years even during our playing days. They are the actual paymaster and the future of national players depend on this Employment…

Even to make matter worst, currently, there not many Clubs/Organization providing jobs. On the above issues – 3 clubs are affected TNB, Maybank & UiTM.

Q-Are the players going lose their income by not playing in MHL? Will the Employer/Club decide not to release the players for national duties – one must understand that Employer decides on their leave to play for national team not the other way around….And do not use the word “Ban” as did to many top Umpires and also for this current dilemma – National team or Employer?

Just sharing in our playing days – we train Monday to Wednesday with national team and released to Club for MHL matches and even at some stage release to play KL League or any other state leagues that the player is involved. 

Bottom line – bread and butter are with the Club/Employer. National Team only provides basic allowances and priority is always the EMPLOYER!

You must understand that CLUBS & EMPLOYERS in hockey is not many in numbers anymore and hope this kind of issues will not hinder for the future employment for national players.

The actual fact is due to your poor planning and frequent ad-hoc decision that has brought this dilemma and please solve amicably so that these few Cubs don't stop supporting this sport which actual fact the cause of the problem is you and not the EMPLOYER… 

Please start planning for a detail “One Final Calendar – One Olympic Cycle 2024-2028” before it creates more future problems & the Employers may stop to support the game which not many left - even TNB & Maybank has gone to playing service contract compared to permanent job. Normally, during the MHL lah, for National or State players to do some cari makan on earnings to survive rather than working at Burger Shops, Family Mart, Petrol Kiosk or in Gig Economy as Riders. Lets have some little heart for these players to survive...

Actually, it’s a simple and doable Calendar…

If you need help, let me know will do it at no cost as its for national Interest…..only request – two cup of Teh-C hot one….

PERSONAL VIEW FROM MANINDERJIT SINGH (MIKE) ABOUT THE FUTURE OF MALAYSIAN HOCKEY & WHY ARE WE PLAYING BELOW PAR AT INTERNATIONAL EVENTS....

Warm Greetings to all my ardent readers...

For the last few years, Malaysian hockey underwent a massive turbulence with unrecoverable "air-pocket" tragedy in key major International Hockey Tournaments...

Been writing and saying the real cause on "why we are achieving below par performance" even though with massive transformation plan with many foreign consultants getting involved but yet we are sliding at World map and now even at Continental level...

Recently, there was a new initiative by Sportswriters Association of Malaysia (SAM) coming up with their own dedicated PODCAST called "SAM BANG" and posted on YOUTUBE Channel to share the insights on the views.

Interesting to see that - no censorship and the invitee is allowed to speak his mind without holding the real hard fact truth about the topic. As my requirement is always there should not be any narrative or personal agenda about the show, with that, I agreed to be part of this SAM BANG PODCAST few days ago...

Podcast SAMBANG bagi episod keenam SAM bersama Maninderjit Singh @ Mike 

Jam 10:00 malam | 19 November 2024 | Selasa

Topik - Status Malaysian Hockey dipentas Antarabangsa & peluang ke LA28

Please click the below link as there are 3 parts of the PODCAST...

Part 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNrAGEPkllc

Part 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5crrcyRv-A

Part 3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-c9LD0mR8SY

Just to be clear that whatever is said in the above 3 parts, the interest of the Nation & Sports was my first priority so that we are back to be in the Olympic Games after failing 6 Olympic Cycle since 2004 Athens till 2024 Paris.

Lucky as the most of FIH events the number of teams are expanded from the original 12 Teams to 16 Teams, even at Junior World Cup - is expanded from 16 to 24 teams and with that, the entry door is wider than those days and due to this expansion we are still playing at Senior & Junior World Cup. 

If the old 12 teams quota system remained, for sure we will be out of these events too as we have fallen badly and my assumption as of today the ranking in world hockey is stated below:

Senior Men Team - 16th or 17th

Jnr Men Team - 14th 

Senior Women Team - 23rd

Jnr Women Team - 19th  

And Malaysian Jnr Women team will also easily qualify due to 5 slots in Junior Asia Cup (decider with Thailand for 5th slot) which previously was only top 3 Asia Team when 16 team JWC. 

For Jnr Men at Asia level, 7 slots including India qualifies to 2025 JWC. Wait and see the results in 2025 JWC, it will a high scoring tournament due to 24 teams - many sub standard teams will be playing especially from Asia ranked 6-7 (Bangladesh, China, Thailand & Taipei), Oceania (PNG or Samoa will qualify) with Zimbabwe or Nigeria from Africa Continental. Many such teams are not ready for World Stage tournament...

I disagree on the expansion of teams, a World Cup is a World Cup, not every player or team could easily qualify to play in such events, the standards and competitive edge must be kept at the highest level possible and best teams keep pushing their benchmark.

Ideally, a Mini World Cup or like the new event call FIH Nation Cup 2 to provide a development team to use such events to grow at International level.

Thank you to all my readers and wishing everyone the very best..

Best Regards

Maninderjit Singh (Mike)

Double Olympian, Double World Cupper & Twice Asian All Star

Former SEC GEN of MHF & MHC

MALAYSIAN HOCKEY DILEMMA - Been invited for 3 Famous Renowned Podcast to Explain the Decay & Issues...Enjoy it!

Warm Greetings to all my readers...

Hope everyone has been good and fine. Didn't been writing for sometime and decided to just provide some updates and information.

Malaysian hockey is undergoing a unrepairable turbulence since last year  Asian Games till recent Sultan of Johor Cup 2024.

The Results based on the chronology of events:

2023 Asian Games - Finished 6th

2024 Paris Olympic Qualification in Jan Muscat - Finished 5th out of 8 teams

2024 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup - finished 4th out of 6

2024 FIH Nation Cup - finished 7 out of 8 teams - Poland played as a host.

2024 - Europe Tour Senior Team - Poor Performances

2024 Asian Champions Trophy - finished last 6 out of 6

2024 Junior Australia Tour - lost all the matches

2024 Sultan of Johor Cup - Men's U21 - Finished last 6 out of 6

What is a dilemma? - a difficult situation or problem.

The above results, in my view, I was expecting it and was not surprised, as this didn't happen overnight and its what we did in the last 6-8 years which is the real reflection of our standard in World Hockey. 

Many believed in perception over reality style of leadership but I was always consistent in my views and been saying that we are no longer an International Hockey Team but many defy my facts and but time & results has spoken..

Anyway, was called to be in two podcast lately to explain why and where was the decay or issues that is plaguing Malaysian hockey.

First was the RTM Sports Podcast as below link:

https://rtmklik.rtm.gov.my/play/program/spodcast/spodcastep63

2nd was - TIMESPORTS ON THE BEAT - WITH K RAJAN

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0ina7ELNW1xoUIB0ACP7ef?si=LfSDA_s_TV2_T_RMLG4kfw

3rd - latest with "SAM BANG" under the The Sportswriters Association of Malaysia (SAM) - will share the link once is online! Its HOT & SPICY!

Please enjoy both the above podcast links.....

Thanks to all the readers and support rendered...

Best Regards

Maninderjit Singh (Mike)

Former Malaysian Hockey Internationals

Paris Olympics - 5 days away - Fact Sheets on Field Hockey - History, Venue, Match Schedule, How the teams got there? Format, Team, Where to watch? Officials, Last Malaysia Men's Hockey Team that played in Sydney Olympics...

Hockey and the Olympic Games

The Inaugural Olympic Hockey Competition for men was held in London in 1908 with England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales competing separately. With the addition of Germany and France, the competition ran with six teams. After having made its first appearance at the London Games, hockey was subsequently dropped from the 1912 Stockholm Games after host nations were granted control over ‘optional sports’. It reappeared in 1920 in Antwerp after pressure from Belgian hockey advocates before being omitted again at Paris 1924, exactly 100 years ago. The formation of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) in 1924 was not soon enough for the Paris Olympics but it did grant hockey re-entry in Amsterdam in 1928. Hockey has been on the programme ever since, with women’s hockey included for the first time in Moscow in 1980. At the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, hockey celebrated 100 years as an Olympic sport. At the London 2012 Olympics, hockey was the third biggest sport in terms of ticket sales with over 630,000 sold. The Olympics is the ultimate hockey competition, with the Olympic gold medal being the most coveted prize in the sport.

Venue for Paris Olympics

Yves-du-Manoir Stadium has already been renovated several times, and the Hauts de-Seine department, which owns this facility, will be launching a modernisation programme to benefit its communities, associations, schools and universities. The venue includes two (2) competition pitches and one (1) training pitch.

Paris 2024 Qualification Overview – How did the teams get to Paris Olympics…

The winners of each Continental Championship and the teams ranked first, second and third of each FIH Hockey Olympic qualifier joined hosts France with berths at the Paris 2024 Olympic hockey tournaments. The pools, which were determined based on the FIH World Rankings as at 22 January 2024, are as follows:

 

Competition Format

The hockey competition at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 comprises women’s and men’s events, with the same format and rules for both. In the preliminary round 12 teams are divided into two pools of six. Each team plays every other team in its pool. The pools for the men’s and women’s competitions were determined by the FIH World Rankings at 22 January 2024, shortly after the completion of the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers. Pool A: Seed 1; 4; 5; 8; 9; 12 Pool B: Seed 2; 3; 6; 7; 10; 11

Men’s competition

Pool A: Netherlands, Germany, Great Britain, Spain, France, South Africa

Pool B: Belgium, India, Australia, Argentina, New Zealand, Ireland

Women’s competition

Pool A: Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Japan, China, France

Pool B: Australia, Argentina, Great Britain, Spain, United States, South Africa

The top four teams in each pool proceed to the crossover Quarter-Finals, with the remaining four teams eliminated at this stage. The winners of the Quarter-Finals progress to the Semi-Finals, the winners of which meet in the gold medal match. The losers of the Semi-Finals will play for the bronze medal.

Overall Match Schedule as below:

 

The Teams – each Team

At the Olympic Games Paris 2024, a team is made up of a maximum 16 players, composed of 11 players on the field and up to five substitutes. Each team also has up to three “Ap” alternate athletes that can be drafted into the squad as permanent replacements for athletes who are forced to withdraw from the event for reasons such as injury. Ap alternate athletes can only become competing athletes as per the conditions outlined in the ‘Paris 2024 Late Athlete Replacement policy’, which can be found in Appendix 6 of the Competition Regulations by clicking here.

The Officials that will manage for both Men & Women matches are as below:

Where to Watch in Malaysia:

RTM Sukan & RTMklik with 18 dedicated Astro Channels.. Enjoy it folks!

Malaysia last played in Olympics was the Sydney 2000 Olympics, since then we have failed numerous times – been 24 years. See the team that played in Sydney Olympics 2000…or called as The Last Mohicans in Malaysian Men’s Field Hockey… I am proud to be able to play in 2 Olympics back to back...

 

Sydney 2000 Olympics - Malaysian Men's Hockey Team

Will try to provide daily updates and predictions via WhatsApp and twitter postings.

Let’s enjoy the Olympics….

Regards to everyone

Maninderjit Singh (Mike) - Former Internationals

-  Played in 2 Olympics – 1996 Atlanta & 2000 Sydney

EuroHockey U21 Championship Men 2024 Terrassa, Spain 14 - 20 Jul 2024

 EuroHockey U21 Championship Men 2024

Terrassa, Spain

14 - 20 Jul 2024

The 2024 Men's EuroHockey Junior Championship will be the 21st edition of the Men's EuroHockey Junior Championship, the biennial international men's under-21 field hockey championship of Europe organised by the European Hockey Federation.

It will be held alongside the women's tournament in Terrassa, Spain from 14 to 20 July 2024.

The Netherlands are the record-holders after winning their tenth title by defeating the defending champions Germany 3–1 in the final. It will be a 8 teams event.

Pool A – Belgium France Germany Turkey

Pool B – England Nederland Spain Ireland

Format:

At pool stage – Round Robin and top 2 each pool plays SF1&2 with Finals & 3^rd/4^th with other classification matches for 5-8. Total 20 matches.

Only top 6 teams will be retained in next Eurohockey Junior whereas the 7&8 goes to Eurohockey Junior II and top 2 will join the 6 for next cycle in 2026.

With the new 24 teams for 2025 Junior World and based on the qualifications there will be 8 slots given, with that, all the above teams will be automatically qualifying for 2025 JWC. Turkey may play their first ever JWC.

This Continental event will also provide Jnr Ranking points based on their last position in the tournament and not based on each match like senior ranking points. Champion gets 750 points followed by 2^nd 700points 3^rd 650points 4^th 600 points 5^th 550 points 6^th 500 points 7^th 450 points and last 8^th will be 400 points.

My top 4 will be Ned Ger Spain & Fra

Will be watching the tournament via purchasing EHTV pass.

2025 JWC Men U21 – India – 24 teams for a first time!

Summary 24 teams – Host, Africa 3 teams: Europe 8 teams: Asia 6teams: Pan Am 3 teams & Oceania 3 teams and India will host in December 2025 - some say Chennai and Odisha yet to be confirmed.

To understand better the journey of 2025 JWC please click the link below:

https://stickwithmike.blogspot.com/2024/06/2025-junior-world-cup-fact-sheets-and.html

Anyway, I still believe JWC should be a solid top 12 teams’ tournament and create another division for 12 lower teams and from here only 6 goes like super-six to join the best 6 teams as seeded similar to current T20 Cricket WC and it helps to main the competitiveness and also assist weak teams to develop or else it will be a high scoring and boring events and some teams may spoil the potential chances for big teams. See like Africa got 3 slots – SA & Egypt who is 3rd – Nigeria/Zimbabwe and see Oceania 3 slots – Aus & NZ who is next – are they ready to compete – in international hockey the competitiveness index is from1-18 and after 19 onwards the standard is poor. From these 24 teams, the Continental that will gained the most is the European nations with 8 slots and Turkey will play as first timer.

Regards to everyone…

Maninderjit Singh (MIKE)

Former Olympian and Sec Gen of MHC

P/S - There are massive criticism on Malaysian Men's Hockey Team and will write about it after they have completed their tour of Europe and what the future looks like and the obstacles of achieving the ultimate LA2028 slot...

2025 JUNIOR WORLD CUP FACT SHEETS AND OTHER ISSUES… Views from Maninderjit Singh (Mike)

2025 JUNIOR WORLD CUP FACT SHEETS AND OTHER ISSUES…

Good afternoon to my loyal readers and followers…

Apology as not been writing as often as possible due to busy with matters in hand especially work and family with some golfing over the weekends.

Let’s start…

Malaysian Men’s hockey team completed their 2 first events after disbanding Arul’s team in Jan 2024 with the hope that the team will be on the right path in months to come and plays in LA2028. Malaysia finished 4 out of 6 teams in SASC24 & 7^th out of 9^th in FIH Nation Cups. Many were saying that the transformation is not getting any better and been receiving comments from many former Internationals and stakeholders. I am not going into the technical & tactical parts as been voicing the facets in my commentary and articles. We are not producing international player but national player. To be honest after watching the best teams in FIH Pro League & the gap between them and us is huge and time is of essence. Looking at pool of players, the previous players that was dropped were better off than some new selected ones for the future. Soon or later the old horses may be called in one by one to reinforce the team. Is that the right solution or it will be another chaos? The biggest dilemma we have is our supply chain from sports school & Junior World Cup squads are poor in standards and not properly prepared teams such as 2023, 2021 & 2016/2017 which we are paying the price today to assemble a National International Team status that could compete with world best. Honestly, I am still skeptical how we are going to qualify to LA2028 & win 2026 AG Gold Medal and having massive doubts and hope over time they could be a light at the end of tunnel…

On Malaysian Women Senior Team & Junior teams is in sleeping mode and waiting for a “jump-start” as usual a month before participation. Not sure how they’re keeping their conditioning & international matches temperament. All big Nation having a busy schedule. Here waiting for Sea games and some test matches via invitation or ad-hoc.

Sorry for diverting matters…Opps forgot that Malaysian Indoor Team qualified for a first time to 2025 Indoor World Cup. Just to correct some facts that for a first time in Indoor Asia Cup 2 teams is given the slots to Indoor World Cup and previously was one slot and difficult to break the Iranian dominance.. But targeting a medal in 2025 Indoor World Cup is like building a castle in the sky but the Coaching team also endorsed that they could win a medal. Shocked by the news and hope is to break the top 10 first not promising medal in 2025 Indoor World Cup…

 

Junior World Cup 2025 fact sheets:

In 2023 KL JWC, we targeted top 4 Semifinal then brought it down to top 8 but failed and ended 12^th placing as host. Waited for a postmortem and way forward but no news and now comes another cycle in preparation for 2025 JWC – Men/Women. Suggested that to implement 3 JWC cycle – U20, U18 & U16 national teams for the coming 3 JWC cycle – 2025,2027 & 2029 so that the pool of players for LA2028 & Brisbane 2032 will be in better quality players. But even for one team – 2025 JWC their periodization plan and quality matches are not well planned and their first major test will be the Sultan of Johor Cup – 19-26^th October 2024 to see what work they’ve done and how much the players has improved. Suggest invest in players that can play in JWC and not in Junior Asia Cup only because the risk to miss JWC is very low because of 24 teams in 2025 JWC.

Many were seeking for answers and please see the details/timeline below for next 2025JWC cycle:

Age Limit

All players shall be under 21 years of age as of 31 December 2024 that is all players shall be born on or after 1 January 2004.

Men U21

Summary 24 teams – Host, Africa 3 teams: Europe 8 teams: Asia 6teams: Pan Am 3 teams & Oceania 3 teams and India will host in December 2025 - some say Chennai and Odisha yet to be confirmed.

Anyway, I still believe JWC should be a solid top 12 teams’ tournament and create another division for 12 lower teams and from here only 6 goes like super-six to join the best 6 teams as seeded similar to current T20 Cricket WC and it helps to main the competitiveness and also assist weak teams to develop or else it will be a high scoring and boring events and some teams may spoil the potential chances for big teams. See like Africa got 3 slots – SA & Egypt who is 3^rd – Nigeria/Zimbabwe and see Oceania 3 slots – Aus & NZ who is next – are they ready to compete – in international hockey the competitiveness index is from1-18 and after 19 onwards the standard is poor. From these 24 teams, the Continental that will gained the most is the European nations.

The FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup 2025 will consist of 24 teams

1.1. To qualify for the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup 2025, National Associations must compete

in their respective Continental Federation (CF) Junior Championships/Qualifier.

1.2. The Host Nation – 1 quota place: The host nation.

1.3. Teams Qualified by Continental Federation – 15 quota places

The Continental quotas are as follows:

• Africa (3): The Top 3 teams in the Junior Africa Cup 2024

• Asia (3): The Top 3 teams in the Junior Asia Cup 2024

• Europe (3): The Top 3 teams in the EuroHockey U21 Championship 2024

• Pan America (3): The Top 3 team in the Junior Pan American Championship 2024

• Oceania (3): The Top 3 teams in the Junior Oceania Cup 2024

 

Note: when considering the Top 3 nations in each CF Championship, the JWC host nation is not

included. Therefore, the continent of the host nation will have the Top 3 teams plus the host

nation qualified,

1.4. The remaining 8 Teams will qualify via continental quotas calculated using the FIH Men’s Junior

World Ranking on (April 10th, 2024) provided that:

• They are not yet qualified under 1.2 and 1.3 above.

• The Continental quotas are calculated by considering the CF of each nation in the Junior World

Rankings, and disregarding the top 3 nations from each CF. The CFs of the top 8 ranked nations that

remain in the rankings then earn a continental quota for their CF. These 8 continental quotas are

then filled by the highest finishing nations in each continental championship who have not already

qualified for the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup 2025.

Therefore:

• Asia are awarded 3 additional quotas, to be filled by the three (3) highest-placed teams in the Junior

Asia Cup 2024 not yet qualified under 1.2 or 1.3.

• Europe are awarded 5 additional quotas, to be filled by the five (5) highest-placed teams in the

EuroHockey Junior Championship 2024 not yet qualified under 1.2 or 1.3.

Qualification Timeline - Men

April 2024 FIH Executive Board approves qualification

2 – 12 July Junior Pan American Championship 2024 (Surrey, Canada)

14 – 20 July EuroHockey U21 Championship (Terrassa, Spain)

TBC Junior Asia Cup

TBC Junior Oceania Cup

October 2024 Junior Africa Cup

TBC Invitations to participate issued to qualified National Associations

TBC National Associations to confirm in writing to FIH their participation in the FIH Hockey

Men’s Junior World Cup 2025

TBC Team Entry Forms issued to competing National Associations

TBC Team Entry Forms to be returned to FIH

TBC FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup 2025 (TBC)

 

For Women U21

Summary 24 teams – Host, Africa 3 teams: Europe 8 teams: Asia 5 teams: Pan Am 4 teams & Oceania 3 teams.

Similar like Men U21 Qualification system and only differ is the allocation of quota for each Continental taking into account of Junior World Ranking points as at 10^th April 2024.

Qualification Timeline – Women U21

April 2024 FIH Executive Board approves qualification

2 – 12 July Junior Pan American Championship 2024 (Surrey, Canada)

14 – 20 July EuroHockey U21 Championship (Terrassa, Spain)

TBC Junior Asia Cup

TBC Junior Oceania Cup

October 2024 Junior Africa Cup

TBC Invitations to participate issued to qualified National Associations

TBC National Associations to confirm in writing to FIH their participation in the FIH Hockey

Women’s Junior World Cup 2025

TBC Team Entry Forms issued to competing National Associations

TBC Team Entry Forms to be returned to FIH

TBC FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup 2025 (TBC)

To qualify to 2025 JWC (6 teams for Men & 5 teams for Women as Asia slots) will never be an issue for both of our Malaysian Men & Women U21 teams but the question here, what placing will be our best in 2025 JWC and creating better international players not national players quality will be the key element in this journey. Currently, couldn't foresee that we could break top 8 for men & top 12 for women and time will tell...

Wishing the very best to all national teams and Coaches & those are involved. Will be following closely on the progress and achievements.

Godspeed.

Maninderjit Singh (Mike)

Former International & Sec Gen of MHC