South American Games hockey: Los Leones target Santa Fe 2026 | OneFootball

The Argentine men’s national team approached its participation in the Games with a combination of experienced players and young talents looking to gain minutes after the third-place finish achieved at the World Championship.

Los Leones are going through the Santa Fe 2026 South American Games with a mix of experience and youth, while enjoying a stage that also allows them to showcase men’s hockey to an ever-growing crowd.

The Argentine team won its first two matches: it crushed Peru 22-0 and then defeated Brazil 4-1. This Friday, September 18, starting at 4 p.m., it will face Chile in the third matchday of the opening phase.

A special experience

Beyond the competition, the players highlighted the environment they found in Santa Fe. Tomás Habif, captain of the national team, said the squad feels comfortable with the facilities and especially praised the condition of the field. “We arrived about a week ago, and we’re very comfortable. The facilities are good, the field is impeccable,” he said.

For the player, competing in the Games in Argentina also represents an opportunity to give greater visibility to a sport that is still seeking to broaden its reach among men. “In such a football-loving country, we know it’s a little harder for the other sports, so it’s super important,” he said.

The support of the crowd

The stands packed with fans have been one of the images that most surprised the team. Santiago Tarazona especially highlighted the support during the match against Brazil: “the other day against Brazil, you could really feel it, so we hope they keep supporting us until the end of the tournament.”

Habif also stressed the importance of playing in front of spectators who may be having their first contact with hockey. For Los Leones, that closeness can be key to sparking the interest of new kids. “That the sport can be shown, that people come closer and start getting to know it much better,” he said.

What’s next

The roster for these Games has a particular component: it combines experienced players with young ones who are beginning to get minutes with the senior national team. Nicolás Cicileo explained that the competition helps those taking their first international steps gain experience.

“These South American Games help us so that the guys who may be playing their first matches, who are going to be part of the Under-21 process, gain experience,” he said. Coach Juan Manuel Vivaldi also highlighted that transition: “there are many Under-21 players making their debut with the senior team.”

More fields in the interior

Vivaldi considered that adding top-level surfaces outside Buenos Aires could especially benefit hockey in the region. “Continuing to add top-level water-based fields helps development a lot,” he said.

Habif agreed and raised the need for this type of facility to reach more provinces. The possibility of having them would make it possible to expand the number of places where kids can start and develop in the sport.

Meanwhile, Los Leones continue their journey in the Games with a clear sporting objective, but also as the protagonists of an experience that combines competition, crowd support, and contact with a city that welcomed them with packed stands.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.