Host India will play their opening Pool-D match of the 15th FIH Hockey Mens World Cup against Spain at the brand-new Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela on on 13 January 2023. The full schedule of the mega event was announced by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) today.

Four pool league matches will take place on the opening day. 2016 Olympic gold medallists Argentina and highest-ranked African nation South Africa will lock horns in the World Cup opener at the iconic Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, which hosted the last Mens World Cup final in 2018.

The second match of the day in Bhubaneswar will see World No 1 Australia taking on France, in a repeat of the 2018 World Cup quarter-final. Later on the same day, the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium will host its first-ever FIH World Cup matches, starting with a pool match between England and Wales, followed by the local heroes of India playing in front of their home fans against Spain.

All teams will play in both venues. In total, 44 matches will be played, with the Final scheduled on 29 January in Bhubaneswar. India have been placed in Pool D with England, Spain and Wales. Chile and Wales have qualified for the Mens World Cup for the very first time. Belgium are the current World Cup champions, having defeated the Netherlands in the final of the 2018 edition.

TEAM POOLS:
Pool A: Australia, Argentina, France, South Africa
Pool B: Belgium, Germany, Korea, Japan
Pool C: Netherlands, New Zealand, Malaysia, Chile
Pool D: India, England, Spain, Wales

FULL SCHEDULE:
January 13 (Match 1): Argentina vs South Africa at Bhubaneswar (1:00 PM)
January 13 (Match 2): Australia vs France at Bhubaneswar (3:00 PM)
January 13 (Match 3): England vs Wales at Rourkela (5:00 PM)
January 13 (Match 4): India vs Spain at Rourkela (7:00 PM)
January 14 (Match 5): New Zealand vs Chile at Rourkela (1:00 PM)
January 14 (Match 6): Netherlands vs Malaysia at Rourkela (3:00 PM)
January 14 (Match 7): Belgium vs Korea at Bhubaneswar (5:00 PM)
January 14 (Match 8): Germany vs Japan at Bhubaneswar (7:00 PM)
January 15 (Match 9): Spain vs Wales at Rourkela (5:00 PM)
January 15 (Match 10): England vs India    at Rourkela (7:00 PM)
January 16 (Match 11): Malaysia vs Chile at Rourkela (1:00 PM)
January 16 (Match 12): New Zealand vs Netherlands at Rourkela (3:00 PM)
January 16 (Match 13): France vs South Africa at Bhubaneswar (5:00 PM)
January 16 (Match 14): Argentina vs Australia at Bhubaneswar (7:00 PM)
January 17 (Match 15): Korea vs Japan at Bhubaneswar (5:00 PM)
January 17 (Match 16): Germany vs Belgium at Bhubaneswar (7:00 PM)
January 19 (Match 17): Malaysia vs New Zealand at Bhubaneswar (1:00 PM)
January 19 (Match 18): Netherlands vs Chile at Bhubaneswar (3:00 PM)
January 19 (Match 19): Spain vs England at Bhubaneswar (5:00 PM)
January 19 (Match 20): India vs Wales at Bhubaneswar (7:00 PM)
January 20 (Match 21): Australia vs South Africa at Rourkela (1:00 PM)
January 20 (Match 22): France vs Argentina at Rourkela (3:00 PM)
January 20 (Match 23): Belgium vs Japan at Rourkela (5:00 PM)
January 20 (Match 24): Korea vs Germany at Rourkela (7:00 PM)
January 22 (Match 25, Crossover): 2nd Pool-C vs 3rd Pool-D at Bhubaneswar (4.30 PM)
January 22 (Match 26, Crossover): 2nd Pool-D vs 3rd Pool-C at Bhubaneswar (7.00 PM)
January 23 (Match 27, Crossover): 2nd Pool-A vs 3rd Pool-B at Bhubaneswar (4.30 PM)
January 23 (Match 28, Crossover): 2nd Pool-B vs 3rd Pool-A at Bhubaneswar (7.00 PM)
January 24 (Match 29, QF): 1st Pool-A vs Winner 25 at Bhubaneswar (4.30 PM)
January 24 (Match 30, QF): 1st Pool-B vs Winner 26 at Bhubaneswar (7.00 PM)
January 25 (Match 31, QF): 1st Pool-C vs Winner 27 at Bhubaneswar (4.30 PM)
January 25 (Match 32, QF): 1st Pool-D vs Winner 28 at Bhubaneswar (7.00 PM)
January 26 (Match 33, 9th-16th): 4th Pool-A vs Loser 25 at Rourkela (11.30 AM)
January 26 (Match 34, 9th-16th): 4th Pool-B vs Loser 26 at Rourkela (2.00 PM)
January 26 (Match 35, 9th-16th): 4th Pool-C vs Loser 27 at Rourkela (4.30 PM)
January 26 (Match 36, 9th-16th): 4th Pool-D vs Loser 28 at Rourkela (7.00 PM)
January 27 (Match 37, SF): Winner 29 vs Winner 32 at Bhubaneswar (4.30 PM)
January 27 (Match 38, SF): Winner 30 vs Winner 31 at Bhubaneswar (7.00 PM)
January 28 (Match 39, 13th-16th): Loser 33 vs Loser 34 at Rourkela (11.30 AM)
January 28 (Match 40, 13th-16th): Loser 35 vs Loser 36 at Rourkela (2.00 PM)
January 28 (Match 41, 9th-12th): Winner 33 vs Winner 34 at Rourkela (4.30 PM)
January 28 (Match 42, 9th-12th): Winner 35 vs Winner 36 at Rourkela (7.00 PM)
January 29 (Match 43, 3rd-4th): Loser 37 vs Loser 38 at Bhubaneswar (4.30 PM)
January 29 (Match 44, Final): Winner 37 vs Winner 38 at Bhubaneswar (7.00 PM)