Hosts India will open their campaign against Spain in the 2023 FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup at Rourkela on January 13, the International Federation of Hockey (FIH) announced on Tuesday.
Notably, India has been clubbed with European giants England, Spain and Wales in Pool D.
The action on the first day, i.e January 13, will start with a 1pm match between 2016 Olympic Gold medallists Argentina and Africa’s highest-ranked nation South Africa at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar while India, the 1975 winner, will take on Spain in a prime-time match at 7pm in the newly-constructed Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium in Raurkela.
The second match of the day will also be played at Bhubaneswar which will see world No. 1 Australia facing Paris 2023 hosts France, in a repeat of the 2018 World Cup quarterfinal.
The inaugural match at Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium, Rourkela will be a “derby” between England and Wales, and India and Spain will windup the action for the day.
In the showpiece tournament, Pool A comprises Australia, Argentina, France, and South Africa, Pool B comprises Belgium, Germany, Korea, and Japan while Pool C has Netherlands, New Zealand, Malaysia and Chile.
Defending champion Belgium will open their campaign against South Korea at 5pm on January 14 while former champions the Netherlands will get into the act in the 3pm match on the same day.
All teams will play matches in both venues. In total, 44 matches will be played, with the Final scheduled on January 29 (7pm local time) in Bhubaneswar.