The FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023 would be played on freshly laid hockey fields in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela

Four new fields have been laid and are ready for action in the cutting-edge venues at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium in Bhubaneswar and the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela ahead of the FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023 Bhubaneswar-Rourkela.

The main pitch and practise field at Kalinga Stadium have both been re-laid, while the International Hockey Federation-certified new pitches in Rourkela will be available (FIH).

The 15th iteration of the FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup will take place in 2023 from Bhubaneswar to Rourkela.

Both the legendary Kalinga Hockey Stadium in Bhubaneswar, where so many magnificent pages of hockey’s history have been written, and the new “jewel” of hockey, the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela, will host games. The elite competition will be held from January 13 to January 29 in 2023, and the best 16 teams from around the globe, including India, will participate.

India is in Pool D with England, Spain, and Wales out of the 16 teams, which are split up into four pools. The top four teams from each pool advance directly to the quarterfinals, while the remaining eight teams from the four pools face off in cross-over matches for a berth in the quarterfinals.

Argentina, Australia, France, and South Africa are in Pool A, while Belgium, Germany, Korea, and Japan are in Pool B. The Netherlands, Malaysia, New Zealand, and Chile are included in Pool C.

Including cross-overs, quarterfinals, semifinals, and championship games, Bhubaneswar will host 24 games while Rourkela will host 20, with India hosting the opening two league games on January 13 and 16 of 2023.

“These are truly exciting times for hockey fans with the FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023 Bhubaneswar-Rourkela only a few weeks away. I am very happy to note that all four newly laid pitches certified by FIH are ready to be used. Both Kalinga Hockey Stadium and Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium will provide world-class facilities for the participating teams and the spectators. We are grateful to the Odisha State Government who have left no stone unturned in ensuring this edition of the World Cup will be a memorable one for everyone,” expressed Padma Shri Dr Dilip Tirkey, President, Hockey India. 

Additionally, India was honoured to host the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup in 2010 and 2018.