As part of our build-up to the FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup Chile 2023, we bring you the final Pool preview which examines the qualification routes, past form and crucial players from the teams that will compete at the showpiece event in Santiago, Chile.
England, Japan, New Zealand and USA all feature in Pool D, with a top two finish being the only way to secure a place in the competition quarter-finals and thus maintain hopes of Junior World Cup glory.
England
FIH Junior World Ranking: 4
How they qualified: 3rd Place – FIH Hockey Junior World Cup South Africa 2022
Junior World Cup history: 2022 – 3rd, 2016 – 7th, 2013 – 4th, 2009 – 4th, 2005 – 9th, 2001 – 8th, 1997 – 7th, 1993 – 9th, 1989 – 8th
About the team: Sitting fourth in the FIH Junior World Rankings and bronze medallists at the FIH Hockey Junior World Cup South Africa 2022, England will once again be targeting a place on the podium at Santiago 2023. The team recorded victories against hosts South Africa (3-0), Ireland (2-1) and USA (2-1) before suffering a heavy semi-final defeat at the hands of Germany (8-0). However, they bounced back in superb style, holding India to a 2-2 draw before winning the shoot-out to claim bronze, their first ever women’s Junior World Cup medal. Goalkeeper Evie Wood – one of the stars of Potchefstroom 2022, making countless impressive saves to help secure the bronze medal – has been named co-captain for Santiago 2023 alongside Beth Alexander, who broke her hand in the first game at last year’s competition in South Africa. The team is coached by Simon Letchford, the architect of England’s medal winning campaign at Potchefstroom 2022.
Japan
FIH Junior World Ranking: 15
How they qualified: 3rd Place – Junior Asia Cup 2023
Junior World Cup history: 2016 – 9th.
About the team: Having made the difficult decision to withdraw from the previous, rescheduled edition, Japan make a welcome return to the Junior World Cup stage. Their only previous appearance came at the 2016 event, which was also staged in Santiago, where they finished in ninth position. They booked their ticket to Santiago 2023 courtesy of a bronze medal at the Junior Asia Cup 2023 in June, which was played on home soil in Kakamigahara. Maho Ueno and Mai Wakasa scored eight times apiece in the competition, with Mahiro Kitayama scoring the crucial goal bronze medal match against China, earning a 2-1 victory to finish the event in style. Japan may be the lowest ranked team in Pool D, but they are more than capable of defying expectations.
New Zealand
FIH Junior World Ranking: 12
How they qualified: 2nd Place – Junior Oceania Cup 2022
Junior World Cup history: 2016 – 13th, 2013 – 9th, 2009 – 10th, 2001 – 5th, 1989 – 9th.
About the team: New Zealand were unable to qualify for the 2022 Junior World Cup in South Africa due to the continued fall-out of the covid-19 global health pandemic, which resulted in the cancellation of the 2021 Junior Oceania Cup. The Junior Black Sticks will be thrilled to return to the fold at Santiago 2023, which will be their sixth Junior World Cup campaign after Santiago 2016, Mönchengladbach 2013, Boston 2009, Buenos Aires 2001, and Ottawa 1989. The team were beaten to the title by hosts Australia at the Junior Oceania Cup 2022 in Canberra, drawing the opening game against the Jillaroos before falling to 4-2 and 3-2 defeats. Team captain Hannah Cotter is likely to be a player to watch, having made 19 appearances and scored five goals for the senior Black Sticks side.
USA
FIH Junior World Ranking: 5
How they qualified: 1st Place – Junior Pan American Championship 2023
Junior World Cup history: 2022 – 8th, 2016 – 8th, 2013 – 7th, 2009 – 8th, 2005 – 7th, 2001 – 14th, 1997 – 12th, 1989 – 10th
About the team: 2023 has already been a wonderfully successful year for USA’s Junior Eagles, who became continental champions for only the second time in their history at April’s Junior Pan American Championship 2023, played in Barbados. They bounced back from an opening match loss against Argentina (2-0) with a comfortable 4-1 victory over Uruguay before overcoming Chile in their semi-final, winning a shoot-out 2-0 after the match finished level at 1-1. Their tournament ended where it began, against Argentina, only this time the outcome was very different. Reagan Underwood put USA in front shortly after half time, with Valentina Raposo’s leveller for Argentina forcing the match to a shoot-out in which the Americans would emerge 4-1 winners, with Underwood scoring the title-clinching goal. All eighteen players who competed in Barbados have been selected for Santiago 2023, including player of the tournament and star forward Abigail Tamer, who will captain the team. Another athlete to watch is striker Hope Rose, who was named player of the tournament at the 2021 Junior Pan American Championship, which also took place in Santiago.
The FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup Chile 2023 begins on 29 November with 12 teams in action on opening day! Pool B encounter between Korea and Zimbabwe will get the event underway at 10am local time. High octane clashes between Netherlands and Australia, India and Canada, Argentina and Spain, Germany and Belgium will follow, before hosts Chile play the final match of the opening day against South Africa. The full match schedule for the FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup can be found here.
Don’t miss a moment of the action from the FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup Chile 2023, using either of the two options available on Watch.Hockey:
- the FIH+ Pass, which enables access to all FIH events! Important: the Early Bird discount of up to 25% for the FIH+ Pass has been extended to 29 November!
- the Event Pass, which includes the matches of the FIH Hockey Women's Junior World Cup Chile 2023 only.
Passes can be purchased worldwide* directly through the Watch.Hockey app (App Store and Google Play).
*except on the Indian subcontinent
