While sports lovers look forward to the much-anticipated India vs Pakistan Clash in any sporting tournament, this time around there won't be an India-Pakistan match in the Men's Hockey World Cup. Even though the tournament is set to be staged across Bhubaneshwar and Rourkela in the state of Odisha, India won't be playing Pakistan who failed to qualify for the competition. 


Notably, the most successful team in the history of the competition could not finish in the top four of the Men's Hockey Asia Cup 2022 which is why they couldn't seal a berth for a place in the World Cup. The Green Machines, who have as many as four titles to their credit, were drawn in Group B in the Asia Cup along side Japan, India and Indonesia.


They started their campaign with a 1-1 draw against India which was followed by a 13-0 win over hosts Indonesia. However, they failed to fetch any point in the match against Japan, losing 2-3. So when they India beat Indonesia 16-0, it meant that Pakistan were knocked out of the competition on goal difference.


As a result India, who are drawn with England, Spain and Wales in Pool D of Hockey World Cup 2023, won't be playing against Pakistan in this edition of the competition.


Pools at the Hockey World Cup 2023:


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


FIH Hockey World Cup 2023: Fixtures


13 January


Argentina vs South Africa in Bhubaneshwar at 1:00 PM IST
Australia vs France in Bhubaneshwar at 3:00 PM IST
England vs Wales in Rourkela at 5:00 PM IST
India vs Spain in Rourkela at 7:00 PM IST


14 January


New Zealand vs Chile in Rourkela at 1:00 PM IST
Netherlands vs Malaysia in Rourkela at 3:00 PM IST
Belgium vs Korea in Bhubaneshwar at 5:00 PM IST
Germany vs Japan in Bhubaneshwar at 7:00 PM IST


15 January


Spain vs Wales in Rourkela at 5:00 PM IST
England vs India in Rourkela at 7:00 PM IST


16 January


Malaysia vs Chile in Rourkela at 1:00 PM IST
New Zealand vs Netherlands in Rourkela at 3:00 PM IST
France vs South Africa in Bhubaneshwar at 5:00 PM IST
Argentina vs Australia in Bhubaneshwar at 7:00 PM IST


17 January


Korea vs Japan in Bhubaneshwar at 5:00 PM IST
Germany vs Belgium in Bhubaneshwar at 7:00 PM IST


19 January


Malaysia vs New Zealand in Bhubaneshwar at 1:00 PM IST
The Netherlands vs Chile in Bhubaneshwar at 3:00 PM IST
Spain vs England in Bhubaneshwar at 5:00 PM IST
India vs Wales in Bhubaneshwar at 7:00 PM IST


20 January


Australia vs South Africa in Rourkela at 1:00 PM IST
France vs Argentina in Rourkela at 3:00 PM IST
Belgium vs Japan in Rourkela at 5:00 PM IST
Korea vs Germany in Rourkela at - 7:00 PM IST


24 January


1st Quarterfinal in Bhubaneshwar at 4:30 PM IST
2nd Quarterfinal in Bhubaneshwar at 7 PM IST


25 January


3rd Quarterfinal in Bhubaneshwar at 4:30 PM IST
4th Quarterfinal in Bhubaneshwar at 7 PM IST


26 January


Placement matches (9th-16th)


27 January


1st Semifinal in Bhubaneshwar at 4:30 PM IST
2nd Semifinal in Bhubaneshwar at 7 PM IST


29 January


Bronze medal match at 4:30 PM IST
Gold medal match at 7 PM IST