The International Hockey Federation (FIH) announced the first ever Youth Hockey 5s World Cup on a poster launch today, a major step forward in the development of fast-paced hockey, commonly known as Hockey 5s. The historic tournament will feature the juggernaut of youth hockey from around the world in the Hockey 5s format and Egypt has been chosen to host.
The tournament aims to spread the Hockey 5s culture among younger players, and to make a platform for the emerging Hockey stars to go global. It will have 24 men’s and 24 women’s teams, and is one of the biggest youth hockey competitions held by the FIH in recent years.
Hockey 5s is a faster and shorter version of hockey, with five players per team. The game is fast-paced, fast scoring and the playing field is smaller, making the game exciting for both the players and the fans. FIH believes this format of hockey is a great avenue to gain new fans and youth interest in the sport worldwide.
Egypt had its rights to host the international hockey event because of its success in organising several international hockey events in recent years. Much of the reason for the decision was the country’s rising hockey infrastructure and experience in conducting international events.
The qualification process will be conducted as continental tournaments with the teams from each continent vying for their spot in qualification for the World Cup. The strategy will give hockey developing countries opportunities to grow in addition to traditional power countries.
FIH President, Tayyab Ikram termed the event as a landmark for international hockey. Youth Hockey 5s World Cup “is an expression of the federation’s commitment to growing the game and providing additional opportunities for youth players to play on the world stage,” he said.
It will hope to introduce the next generation of international hockey players whilst increasing the popularity of Hockey 5s across the world. The first ever event is shaping up to be a defining moment in youth hockey and a big event on the international hockey calendar as Egypt prepares for the event and welcomes teams from around the world.
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