Hockey in Chile

Chilean hockey has experienced the most striking rise of any South American hockey nation outside Argentina over the past decade. The Federación Chilena de Hockey Césped coordinates the national programme, which has historically operated from clubs in Santiago and Viña del Mar. Las Diablas, as the women's national team is known, broke into the world's top eight for the first time in 2024 and beat India 3-2 at the FIH Nations Cup that same year.

What systemically sets Chile apart is the central role of private clubs within a relatively limited public sports infrastructure. Prince of Wales Country Club and Club Manquehue in Santiago act as talent hubs, with family traditions spanning generations within the national squad. The influence of the Argentine coaching school is unmistakable: Sergio Vigil, the architect of Las Leonas' 2002 World Cup title, advised the Chilean federation for years and many Chilean technical staffs have Argentine roots.

Qualification for the 2026 World Cup was achieved on home soil: Chile hosted the Santiago Qualifier in March 2026 and qualified directly for the main event. With the current staff, with forward Josefa Villalabeitia as the spearhead and goalkeeper Manuela Urroz as defensive anchor, Chile plays an athletic game built on physical intensity and rapid counters. The Claudia Schüler legacy, Chile's iconic captain from the 2010s, still resonates today in the team's structure.