There is something in the air at every U21 tournament: the future. Every competition in this category is about preparation, learning, and growing at a rapid pace over 10 or 15 days. It’s about walking into a huge stadium—the same one where, maybe in a season or two, they’ll be playing at the senior level. Every two years, hockey fans get the chance to watch these “mini stars” at a World Cup. Mini only in age, and in the journey they still have ahead. The Pan American Federation is represented in these tournaments featuring the best players under 21.
In the men’s competition, Argentina, Canada, and Chile are in India, in Tamil Nadu, competing at the World Cup until December 10. While neither Canada nor Chile has lifted this trophy, Los Leoncitos have—and not just once, but twice. The first time was in 2005, with many players who would later go on to win Olympic gold in 2016. The second was in 2021, also in India. They’re aiming for a third title and have prepared to reach the final stage.
Both the Canadians and the Chileans are aiming to finish within the top 10. For Chile, it would be historic. For Canada, it would mean returning to a position they last achieved with their eighth-place finish in 1982. A long time has passed, and they want to write an important new chapter.
In the women’s competition, action begins on December 1 on the American continent, which always benefits Pan American teams due to proximity, adaptation, and climate. Santiago, Chile will host this tournament again, just as it did for the previous edition.
The home team wants to make the most of playing on their own turf and reach the quarterfinals for the first time. Canada seeks that same milestone, hoping to surpass the barrier they last reached in 1993. The United States has made it into the top eight before, but now wants to go further and fight for a podium finish they’ve never achieved.
Uruguay will participate in a World Cup for the second time and aims to climb out of the lowest positions (they finished 13th in 2022 when 16 teams competed—this time there are 24).
For Las Leoncitas, the story is different. They have lifted the trophy before—in 1993 and 2016—but they carry the sting of the 2022 final, where they lost to the Netherlands in a shootout (1–4) after a 2–2 draw in regulation time. In sports, seeking revenge is healthy. It comes from the mix of time passed since a painful loss, what you do with that experience, and the effort and dedication you put in to ensure it doesn’t happen again.
From the Pan American Federation, we wish all our teams success in improving their results, but above all, we hope they grow and learn—because this process is key to shaping exemplary players.
The future is arriving…
