"VAN" (Sports Desk - 16.05.2025) :: With just one month remaining, the excitement is building for the third edition of the FIH Hockey Men’s Nations Cup, set to take place from 15 to 21 June 2025 at the National Hockey Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This prestigious tournament offers a golden opportunity for strongest hockey nations outside the FIH Hockey Pro League to compete against each other, with the winner getting the opportunity to gain promotion for the 2025–26 season of the FIH Hockey Pro League.
A Global Showdown in Kuala Lumpur
The tournament will feature eight formidable teams: France, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, and Wales. Notably, seven of these teams participated in the FIH Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023, underscoring the high caliber of competition expected in Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysia, hosting the Nations Cup for the first time, is poised to deliver an exceptional event. Subahan bin Kamal, President of the Malaysian Hockey Confederation, expressed enthusiasm: “We are grateful to FIH for entrusting us to host this amazing event. We believe this tournament will bring the best of world hockey talents to Malaysia”.
Tournament Structure and Stakes
The Nations Cup serves as a critical pathway for teams aspiring to ascend to the FIH Hockey Pro League. The tournament’s format includes a preliminary round with two pools, followed by classification matches, semi-finals, and the final. The ultimate winner will earn the opportunity to be promoted to the 2025–26 season of the FIH Hockey Pro League.
The two pools in Malaysia will be:
~ Pool A: France, Korea, South Africa, Wales
~ Pool B: Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan
The action begins on 15 June with all teams in action on opening day as Pool A encounters France vs Korea and South Africa vs. Wales will get us underway. New Zealand will take on Japan in the penultimate match of the opening day before the electric final match of the day that will pit hosts Malaysia against Pakistan!
The pool stage matches will be played on 15,16 and 18 June, followed by the classification matches and medal matches on the 20 and 21 June.
Since its inception in 2021, the FIH Hockey Nations Cup has been instrumental in providing top-tier competition for teams outside the Pro League. South Africa clinched the inaugural title in 2022, followed by New Zealand’s triumph in 2024. The 2025 edition in Malaysia continues this tradition, offering teams a platform to showcase their prowess on the international stage.
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