FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 27, 2021
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO, USA — A record 23 teams will compete in the 2022 World Lacrosse Men’s U21 World Championship in Limerick, Ireland next year, it was announced today by World Lacrosse and the Limerick 2022 Organizing Committee.
The tournament will be held August 10-20, 2022 on the campus of the University of Limerick.
With a field of 23 teams, the 2022 World Lacrosse Men’s U21 World Championship will be the largest-ever age group World Championship staged by World Lacrosse. National Teams from the following countries and regions are confirmed to participate:
Australia
Canada
China
Chinese Taipei
Czech Republic
England
Germany
Hong Kong
Ireland
Iroquois Nationals
Israel
Jamaica
Japan
Kenya
Korea
Latvia
Netherlands
Poland
Puerto Rico
Sweden
Uganda
United States
Wales
Eight National Teams will be making their debut appearance in the age group World Championship: Jamaica, Kenya, Latvia, Netherlands, Poland, Puerto Rico, Sweden and Uganda.
The United States is the defending gold medalist, having defeated Canada, 13-12, for the title at the 2016 Federation of International Lacrosse (now World Lacrosse) Men’s U19 World Championship in Coquitlam, Canada. The United States erased an early, six-goal deficit to charge back and claim the gold medal in a tournament that featured 14 teams — at the time, the largest men’s age group World Championship staged by World Lacrosse.
Originally a U19 World Championship, the World Lacrosse membership in 2020 approved a change in the upper age of eligibility for the men’s and women’s age group World Championships, raising the events to U20. Due to postponements brought about by the global pandemic, the upper age of eligibility for the men’s age group World Championship is being raised on a one-time basis to U21 for 2022.
“Today’s announcement of the largest field of teams ever to compete in a World Lacrosse age group World Championship is a reflection of the rapid growth in interest and participation our game continues to enjoy around the globe” said Fiona Clark, World Lacrosse Competition Director. “As we prepare to reunite our global lacrosse community in 2022, we owe a debt of gratitude to the Organizing Committee in Limerick for its ongoing, and outstanding, work in preparing to host the 2022 World Lacrosse Men’s U21 World Championship.”
“We are delighted that we can now look forward to having 23 National Teams ‘together as one – i dteannta a chéile’ – competing in the World Lacrosse Men’s U21 World Championship in Limerick in August 2022,” said Michael Kennedy, Chair of the Limerick 2022 Organizing Committee. “We are especially happy that the U19 players who were due to compete in 2020 will continue to have the opportunity to represent their country given the increase in the age limit to U21 for the 2022 event.”
“We are also looking forward to welcoming club teams from around the world to the World Festival taking place alongside the World Championship,” added Kennedy. “Lacrosse is a medicine game, and we hope that this event can contribute to the healing process for the global lacrosse community as we continue the battle against COVID-19.”
Also today, the Limerick 2022 Organizing Committee introduced an updated event website address and email address for general enquiries:
##www.worldlacrosse.sport##
Media Contact: Darryl Seibel
Phone: 719-374-5546
Email: dseibel@worldlacrosse.sport
About World Lacrosse
World Lacrosse is the international federation for men’s and women’s lacrosse, responsible for providing effective leadership and governance of the sport internationally while supporting the continued growth of lacrosse worldwide. In November 2018, World Lacrosse was officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee. The President of World Lacrosse is Sue Redfern of England.
