"VAN" (Sports Desk - 05.04.2026) :: The journey to the FIH Hockey Junior World Cups 2027 takes a decisive step forward with the upcoming Junior Pan American Cups 2026 — taking place in Santiago, Chile from 6-18 April — where the continent’s brightest young stars will battle not only for continental glory, but for coveted qualification places on the world stage.
With the stakes higher than ever, the tournaments will see three men’s teams and three women’s teams become the first to secure their tickets to the FIH Hockey Junior World Cups 2027, underlining the importance of every match, every goal, and every moment across the competition.
A gateway to the world stage
The Junior Pan American Cups have long served as a crucial proving ground for emerging talent in the Americas. For many players, this event represents their first major international test — and a chance to take a significant step towards senior national team honours.
In 2026, the incentive is clear: half a dozen World Cup berths are up for grabs across men’s and women’s competitions. Only the top three finishers in each competition will advance, making the margin for error razor-thin.
Teams and Format
6 women’s and 7 men’s teams will compete in the Junior Pan American Cups 2026.
Women’s: Argentina, Canada, Chile, Mexico, USA and Uruguay
Men’s: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Mexico, USA and Venezuela
All teams in both competition will be placed in one pool, with teams facing each other once in the round-robin phase. At the end of the league stage, the top-4 teams in the pool standings will advance to the semi-finals, with the team in first position taking on the team in fourth in the first semi-final, while teams placed second and third will play each other in the second semi-final.
The bronze medal match will be nearly as crucial as the final, with the third placed team — along with the winner and runner-up — qualifying for the FIH Hockey Junior World Cup 2027!
The league stage will be played from 6-15 April, with the classification and medal matches to be played on 17 and 18 April across both competitions.
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