FIH Junior World Ranking: 11

How they qualified: 2nd Place – EuroHockey Junior Championship 2022

Junior World Cup history: 2016 – 6th, 2013 – 13th

Belgium booked their ticket to Santiago 2023 with a series of superb performances at last year’s EuroHockey Junior Championship on home soil in Ghent. The Young Red Panthers started the competition by holding reigning junior world champions the Netherlands to a 1-1 draw before defeating Wales, Spain and England to reach the gold medal game, with Germany – who also feature in Pool C – edging out the hosts in a heart-breaking shoot-out. The team selected by head coach Darran Bisley is expected to be just as competitive in Santiago, especially with the inclusion of France de Mot, who was part of the Red Panthers team that finished sixth at the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup Spain & Netherlands 2022, Having made the difficult decision to withdraw from the previous, rescheduled edition, Belgium’s rising stars will feel that a place on the podium in Santiago is well within their capabilities.