The Netherlands sealed their third consecutive world title at the FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup, triumphing in Santiago, Chile after defeating Argentina in the final, to reaffirm their historical dominance in the category. The Dutch side reached a record sixth world title and completed a third consecutive crown following their triumphs in 2022, 2023 and now 2025. The Netherlands settled the match in the first half with a goal from a penalty corner and another from open play, then protected their narrow lead in the decisive stages through a very compact defensive structure that withstood sustained Argentine pressure on the turf of the Estadio Nacional.
The conclusion of the tournament also saw Belgium secure the bronze medal, following a convincing 5-1 victory over China in the third-place play-off. Earlier in the tournament, India had finished 10th, after losing the final classification match against Spain. It was India’s second-worst finish in the tournament’s history.
Netherlands vs Argentina (Full-Time Score: 2-1)
The final opened with sustained attacking pressure from the Netherlands, who asserted control from the outset and dictated play in the attacking half. Following a scoreless first quarter shaped by patient build-up and constant presence around the circle, the breakthrough arrived in Q2 when Ivy Tellier converted from a penalty corner in the 24th minute to give the Dutch a 1-0 lead. That territorial control was swiftly translated into a second goal, as Guusje Moes finished from open play in the 27th minute to double the advantage. Argentina responded with defensive discipline, endured the most demanding phases of pressure and created their first scoring chances from penalty corners, earning two attempts in the second quarter but failing to find a breakthrough before half-time.
In the second half, Argentina reduced the deficit and reignited the contest. Lara Casas converted from a penalty corner in the 37th minute to bring the score back to 2-1 and return Las Leoncitas to the title fight. From that point on, the South American side took territorial control, built sustained attacking sequences and applied high pressure, combining circulation with repeated circle entries. The Netherlands opted to drop into a very compact defensive block, defending deep near their circle, prioritising space control and relying on isolated transitions without sustained counter-attacking volume. That structural solidity allowed them to absorb Argentina’s pressure in the final stages and protect their narrow lead, securing a third consecutive world title and reaffirming their position at the top of the category. Argentina, meanwhile, finished as runners-up in the Under-21 category for the second edition in a row, repeating the outcome of the 2023 edition.
Player of the Match Ivy Tellier said after the final, “I think we played an incredible game. We were very strong and stayed patient, waiting for the right moments. Against a great team, that was vital for us.”
Dutch dominance
The hat-trick of Junior World Cup titles reiterated the Dutch dominance of women’s hockey at all levels.The Netherlands women are currently the Olympic Games gold medallists, Senior World Cup winners, Pro League Champions, EuroHockey Champions, and have continued their defence of the U21 World Cup title in Chile. At the Olympics, they are back-to-back champions, having won in Tokyo and Paris (with Argentina halting their streak at Rio 2016). At the FIH World Cup, they will enter the tournament in home conditions next year as three-time defending champions. In Chile over the last two weeks, they didn’t lose a single match but were pushed by Belgium in the semifinal after a 0-0 draw in regulation time, before prevailing in the shootout. They conceded just 3 goals in the entire tournament, while scoring 42. Noor van den Nieuwenhof emerged as the latest star, scoring 8 goals in the tournament.
(With FIH inputs)
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd