India and Pakistan clubbed together for Junior Hockey World Cup- Here are the complete pools

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Hockey Current Hosts India finished at fourth place in the last edition of the tournament after losing in the bronze medal match to Spain 3-1. (FILE photo)

Eternal rivals India and Pakistan have been clubbed together in Pool B for the upcoming Junior Men’s Hockey World Cup.

The draw ceremony held in Lausanne, Switzerland on Saturday revealed the six pools of the expanded Junior men’s Hockey World Cup, which will feature 24 teams for the very first time and will be hosted by Tamil Nadu, India in the cities of Chennai and Madurai from 28 November to 10 December.

Defending champions Germany are clubbed with South Africa, Canada, and Ireland in Pool A.

In a surprising move, India is clubbed with Pakistan in Group B despite the participation of Pakistan under scrutiny due to heightened tensions between the two neighbours. Chile and Switzerland complete the lineup in Pool B.

Pool E is dubbed as the group of death with the Netherlands, Malaysia, and England together, while Pool F can also be tricky with current runner-ups France and Australia clubbed with Korea and Bangladesh.

A total of 36 matches will be played in the pool phase, with the teams topping their pool and the two best second-placed teams making it to the quarter-finals.

The rest of the teams will be ranked on how they finished in their pool and will play the crossover to determine their place in the 9th to 16th place playoffs and the 17th to 24th place playoffs.

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Germany are the current Junior Men’s World Champions, having defeated France 2–1 in the final of the 2023 edition, to win a record-extending seventh title.

Current Hosts India finished at fourth place in the last edition of the tournament after losing in the bronze medal match to Spain 3-1.