Dreams require hard work. And Uruguay has spent many years chasing theirs. It’s not luck, there’s no magic wand—just consistency, dedication, and a deep love for the sport. Today, they have their own field and, after nearly a decade, will once again host a Pan American event. This July, they’ll welcome participants of the Men's and Women's Field Hockey Pan American Cup, and their only wish is to rise to the occasion.
Although they previously hosted an Indoor Pan American Cup and a U17 tournament (in 2014 and 2015), this will mark their debut organizing a major continental field hockey competition. How did they get here? Through tremendous effort, but especially by completing their first water-based field for the national teams during the pandemic—making them eligible to host a tournament of this scale.
Danae Andrade, President of the Uruguayan Federation, knows this is not a matter of luck or chance. It’s the result of many years of work that led to greater visibility among international institutions. Now, it’s the teams and the fans who will get to enjoy the results.
“The Pan American Cup gives our youth teams and our people the chance to experience top-level matches at home. We’ve hosted international teams at the Cancha Celeste before, but having everyone here at the same time is truly exciting for our development. And there’s something extra special: our players have never had the chance to play in front of their own crowd—family, friends. It’ll be unforgettable,” said the leader.
The journey to becoming hosts was long, but it can be summed up in a phrase that captures the reality of hockey in this country—something few can say: “Uruguay has been growing exponentially. There’s hockey in all 19 departments of the country, it’s played everywhere, even in public schools. We want hockey to be for everyone,” said Andrade, who once wore the Uruguayan jersey as a player and now wears it from the management side.
It’s been a long wait. Many players and coaches passed through without ever having this chance.
Some believe emotional and in-person support can be crucial to a team’s performance. Could it be true? Could Uruguay make it? The rivals are tough, but they didn’t get this far by chance. And perhaps this first time as host will lead to other exciting firsts.
Starting July 24, Montevideo will host the most important continental championship. Only the champions will secure a spot in the next World Cup.
