India will host Men’s Hockey World Cup 2023 for the second time in a row in Odisha, with Indian team facing Spain in the opening match on January 13
India will host the men’s Hockey World Cup 2023 in its eastern state of Odisha. Hosts India will face lower-ranked Spain in the opening match on January 13 at the newly-constructed Birsa Munda International Stadium in Rourkela, Odisha.
The Indian team, which had bagged bronze at Tokyo Olympics and is currently world No.5 in the FIH rankings, has been placed alongside England (6), Spain (8) and World Cup debutants Wales (16) in pool D. Team India will play its second match in Rourkela, against England on January 15. On January 19, it will face Wales in their final group match in Bhubaneswar.
Aerial Views of the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium and Hockey Practice Centre at Rourkela. #HWC2023
Pool A is being led by world No.1 Australia, which had clinched a bronze at the last World Cup in 2018. They were drawn along with 2016 Olympic champions Argentina, France and African champions South Africa. Reigning world champions Belgium are the top seed. The team has been placed in Pool B along with 2006 winners Germany, Korea and Japan.
Pool C has last edition finalists the Netherlands, ranked third in the world, along with Oceania representative New Zealand, Malaysia — playing their ninth World Cup and debutants Chile.
As per the schedule, 2016 Olympic champions Argentina will face South Africa, while world No. 1 Australia will take on France on the same day at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. Belgium will take on South Korea in Bhubaneswar.