Lausanne (Switzerland), Dec 3 (Reporter) Chile’s capital city, Santiago, will host the 11th edition of the FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup next year, as revealed by the International Hockey Federation (FIH). The South American nation has become a true cradle for rising stars, hosting this event for the fourth time. Moreover, much to the delight of the hockey fans, there will be 8 more teams to cheer for this time around. Indeed, with one of the key pillars of the FIH Empowerment and Engagement strategy being to give more opportunities to play to a larger and more diverse number of National Associations, the 2025 FIH Hockey Junior World Cups – women and men – will involve 24 teams for the first time ever in the history of FIH, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) sources on Tuesday said. On top of hosts Chile, the other teams have already qualified for the event: Europe: Netherlands, Spain, England, Germany, Belgium, Ireland, Wales, Scotland Pan America: Argentina, USA, Uruguay, Canada The teams from Africa, Asia and Oceania will qualify at a later stage. "We are thrilled to announce some excellent news: Santiago de Chile will host the upcoming Junior Women's Hockey World Cup! This prestigious event, which brings together the world's brightest young talents and future generations of hockey stars, will take place at the home of our 'Diablas and Diablos'. This will undoubtedly boost the growth and development of hockey in our region. We deeply appreciate the trust placed in Hockey Chile by the President of the International Hockey Federation, Tayyab Ikram," said Andres de Witt, President of the Chilean Field Hockey Federation and the Local Organizing Committee. "This recognition reaffirms Chile's commitment, through the leadership of our Board of Directors, to actively support and contribute to the global development of hockey. We eagerly look forward to welcoming you all to Santiago de Chile in December 2025," Witt said. FIH President Tayyab Ikram said, “Expanding opportunities and fostering inclusivity are at the heart of our mission to grow hockey globally. The FIH Hockey Junior World Cups represent the vibrant future of our sport, celebrating extraordinary young talent from across the globe. The 2025 edition in Santiago, Chile, will bring together 24 dynamic teams from around the world, offering an unparalleled showcase of competition and diversity." "I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Chilean Hockey Federation and the local authorities for their unwavering dedication and enthusiasm in hosting this prestigious event. A s pecial note of deep appreciation goes to Andres De Witt Hepp, President of the Federación Chilena de Hockey, whose visionary leadership and steadfast commitment to the development of hockey at all levels have been instrumental in making this a reality," he said. "Together, we aim to inspire the next generation, leave a lasting legacy, and elevate hockey to unprecedented heights,” Ikram said. The last edition of the FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup took place in 2023, also in Santiago, and was won by the Netherlands. The dates of the 2025 edition will be confirmed at a later stage, the Local Organizing Committee said...////...