Santiago de Chile – December 15, 2025 – Argentina’s under-21 women’s national field hockey team, Las Leoncitas, showcased impressive form throughout 2025, culminating in a strong showing at the Junior World Cup despite falling just short of the title.
Junior World Cup Run Caps Successful Year for Las Leoncitas
The Argentinian U-21 squad dominated the Junior Pan American Games and battled fiercely at the Junior World Cup, signaling a bright future for the program.
- Las Leoncitas secured a dominant victory at the Junior Pan American Games in Asunción, winning all five matches and outscoring opponents 28-1.
- The team reached the final of the Junior World Cup in Santiago de Chile, defeating Germany and China along the way.
- Despite a narrow defeat to the Netherlands in the final, Las Leoncitas demonstrated a high level of play and a fighting spirit.
- Argentina is historically a powerhouse in junior women’s field hockey, consistently performing well in international competitions.
- The team’s performance builds momentum as they look ahead, with the next Junior World Cup championship within reach in 2026.
The year was structured around two key events for the team, led by coach Juan Martín López: the Junior Pan American Games in Asunción and, crucially, the Junior World Cup in Santiago de Chile. A process that began in 2024 allowed López to identify his core group of players and test them in competitive environments.
What was the extent of Argentina’s dominance at the Junior Pan American Games? Argentina achieved a perfect record, winning all five of their matches with a remarkable goal difference of 27-1. Their results included a 3-0 victory over Uruguay, a 6-0 win against Canada, a resounding 12-0 triumph over Paraguay, a 4-1 defeat of Chile, and a 3-0 shutout of the USA.
Building on this success, Argentina entered the Junior World Cup with confidence. They navigated a challenging tournament, securing a 1-1 draw against Belgium in the group stage, before earning victories over Germany and China in the quarter-finals and semi-finals, respectively. The final against the Netherlands proved to be a hard-fought contest, ultimately ending in defeat for Las Leoncitas.
Despite the disappointment of not winning the title, the team’s performance was a source of national pride. They demonstrated resilience and skill throughout the competition, leaving everything on the field. The team came close to ending a decade-long drought, as it will be 10 years in 2026 since Argentina last won the Junior World Cup. That 2016 championship team, coached by Agustin Corradini, featured players like Cristina Cosentino, Agustina Gorzelany, Sofia Toccalino, Eugenia Trinchinetti, Agostina Alonso, Majo Granatto, Julieta Jankunas, and Paula Ortíz.
