Indoor hockey is the high-speed counterpart to field hockey. Of the two, it’s the faster and more intense version—so quick that if you blink, you might miss the action. The speed of the ball in a smaller space makes everything spectacular, and the sideboards that keep the ball in play add to the excitement. In the pinnacle event of this discipline, the 2025 Indoor Hockey World Cup—both men's and women's—three Pan American nations will strive to make their countries and the continent proud. In the men's tournament, Argentina and Trinidad & Tobago will compete, while in the women's competition, the United States will represent the region. The most important event of this hockey variant will take place from February 3 to 9 in Croatia.
This will be the seventh edition of the Indoor World Cup. It began in 2005 but has had only a few champions. In the men’s category, Germany is the most successful team with three titles (2005, 2007, and 2011), followed by the Netherlands' gold in 2015, and Austria’s back-to-back championships in 2018 and 2023. The women's competition follows a similar pattern, but with different dominant teams: Germany and the Netherlands have alternated as champions. The German team won in 2005, 2011, and 2018, while the Dutch claimed the title in 2007, 2015, and 2023. So far, no non-European team has ever lifted the trophy. Will Croatia 2025 change history? Will an American team reach the podium?
Argentina’s Rise in Indoor World Cups
Argentina’s history in the Indoor World Cup is recent but impressive. Their first qualification was for the previous edition in South Africa in 2023. There, they achieved historic milestones, such as defeating Iran (ranked 2nd in the world) in their debut and later beating Australia (ranked 4th). They reached the quarterfinals but faced powerhouse Austria (ranked 1st), which ultimately won the tournament. The final standings placed Argentina among the top eight teams. The Indoor Lions finished seventh in Pretoria and are currently ranked 12th in the world. However, they are not satisfied. After securing the continental title, they have qualified once again and are eager to continue their international rise.
Team captain Juan Eleicegui expressed the significance of representing Argentina in these tournaments:
"It’s an incredible feeling. Every championship representing Argentina is a dream for us, and playing in a World Cup against the best teams is amazing. We are very excited. We know that many teams are of a very high level and that it will be tough, but we believe in ourselves. Our first goal is to take Argentina to the Indoor World Cup semifinals for the first time. That would be historic. Then, if we reach the semifinals, with this team, we’ll go for it all," said the captain.
Trinidad & Tobago: Experience and Determination
Trinidad & Tobago has a bit more experience in the tournament, as this will be their third appearance (2007 and 2018). Darren Cowie, at 40 years old, will be one of the oldest players in the tournament and the leader of the Caribbean squad. He acknowledges the challenges of competing at this level and values what his team has accomplished.
"We want to maintain our identity of playing offensive hockey at a high pace. We have a good mix of experienced players and talented young athletes, which will allow us to adapt to different playing styles throughout the tournament. Having this kind of representation on the world stage, especially given the lack of resources we face alongside other Central American nations, gives us an opportunity to showcase the talent emerging from our region," Cowie explained.
USA Women: Aiming for the Podium
The growth of the United States in hockey is evident across all categories, both men’s and women’s. They have worked hard to raise their level and strengthen the sport in the country. Indoor hockey is no exception, and the U.S. is consistently among the top teams in the Pan American region. Abigail Burnet, at just 19 years old, already has World Cup experience, having competed in the previous edition. In 2023, the American team finished 9th, but this time, they aim to climb higher in the rankings.
"Our goal for this tournament is to prove that our team is a force in indoor hockey. Our main objective is to win a medal, and I firmly believe this team can achieve it," said Abby. She also highlighted the team’s intense preparation, including their participation in the Rhormax Cup in Austria, a country known for its excellence in indoor hockey.
Tournament Format
The competition format allows the top eight teams to advance to the quarterfinals. There are three groups of four teams each. After the preliminary phase, an overall ranking will determine which teams move on to the next stage.
- Argentina (ranked 12th) shares a group with Iran (2nd), Germany (5th), and Malaysia (22nd).
- Trinidad & Tobago (17th) will face Belgium (3rd), Australia (4th), and Namibia (14th).
- The USA women’s team (9th) will compete against Czechia (2nd), Belgium (8th), and Croatia (26th).
From there, the competition will take its course.
The ball will start rolling on February 3, and by February 9, we will know who will raise their hands to touch the sky—and the trophy.
