The FIH Hockey World Cup 2018 is set to kick off on Tuesday, November 28, 2018 at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, India. The 15,000 capacity stadium in the state of Odisha will host 36 matches over 18 days with the final to be played on December 16.
The 13th edition of the tournament will see 16 nations --drawn into four pools of four teams each -- competing for the trophy. The hockey World Cup, which started with 10 teams in the inaugural edition in 1971, was traditionally played with 12 teams since 1973 (1978 Buenos Aires had 14 teams), has returned to the 16-team format after the 2002 edition in Kaula Lumpur, Malaysia.
World No. 1 Australia will look to win the World Cup third time in a row to go level with Pakistan — the most successful side in hockey World Cup history with four World Cup titles.
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India had won the 1975 edition in Kaula Lumpur, Malaysia by beating Pakistan 2-1 in the final and will hope to better the eighth-place finish in the 2014 World Cup in The Hague, Netherlands.
The host has been grouped in Pool C alongside World No. 3 Belgium, South Africa and Canada and will open its campaign against South Africa on November 28.
Cross-over event
Each team will play three matches each and the group toppers from each pool will automatically qualify for the quarterfinals. The second and third-placed teams in each group will go through the cross-over phase where they will play the third and second placed teams of another group to qualify for the quarterfinals.
There is a probability that India, from Pool C, could face Pakistan, from Pool D, in the cross-over match if they finish second and third, or vice versa in their respective pools.
For example, at the end of group stage, if the below can be assumed to be the group standings, Belgium and Netherlands will qualify for the last eight, the cross-over matches will be India vs Pakistan, and Canada vs Germany.
The bronze medal match between the losers of the semifinals will be played before the final on December 16.
Pool A
Argentina, France, New Zealand, Spain
Pool B
Australia, China, England, Ireland
Pool C
Belgium, Canada, India, South Africa
Pool D
Germany, Malaysia, Netherlands, Pakistan
MATCH SCHEDULE
Group Stage
Wednesday, November 28
Pool C - Belgium vs Canada – 5 pm
Thursday, November 29
Pool A – Argentina vs Spain – 5 pm
Pool A – New Zealand vs France – 7 pm
Friday, November 30
Pool B – Australia vs Ireland – 5 pm
Pool B – England vs China – 7 pm
Saturday, December 1
Pool D – Netherlands vs Malaysia – 5 pm
Pool D – Germany vs Pakistan – 7 pm
Sunday, December 2
Pool C – Canada vs South Africa – 5 pm
Monday, December 3
Pool A – Spain vs France – 5 pm
Pool A – New Zealand vs Argentina – 7 pm
Tuesday, December 4
Pool B – England vs Australia – 5 pm
Pool B – Ireland vs China – 7 pm
Wednesday, December 5
Pool D – Germany vs Netherlands – 5 pm
Pool D – Malaysia vs Pakistan – 7 pm
Thursday, December 6
Pool A – Spain vs New Zealand – 5 pm
Pool A – Argentina vs France – 7 pm
Friday, December 7
Pool B – Australia vs China – 5 pm
Pool B – Ireland vs England – 7 pm
Saturday, December 8
Pool C – Belgium vs South Africa – 5 pm
Sunday, December 9
Pool D – Germany vs Malaysia – 5 pm
Pool D – Netherlands vs Pakistan – 7 pm
Cross-over Stage
Monday, December 10
CS1 - 2nd Pool A vs 3rd Pool B – 4:45 pm
CS2- 2nd Pool B vs 3rd Pool A – 7 pm
Tuesday, December 11
CS3 - 2nd Pool C vs 3rd Pool D – 4:45 pm
CS4 - 2nd Pool D - 3rd Pool C – 7 pm
Quarterfinals
Wednesday, December 12
QF1: Winner of Pool A vs CS2 – 4:45 pm
QF2: Winner of Pool B vs CS1 – 7 pm
Thursday, December 13
QF3: Winner of Pool C vs CS4 – 4:45 pm
QF4: Winner of Pool D vs CS3 – 7 pm
Semifinals
Saturday, December 15
Winner QF1 vs Winner QF4 – 4 pm
Winner QF2 vs Winner QF3 – 6:30 pm
Bronze medal match – Sunday, December 16 – 4:30 pm
Final - Sunday, December 16 – 7 pm
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