Following a glitzy opening ceremony, the much-awaited 2018 edition of the Men's Hockey World Cup will kick start on Wednesday, with third-ranked Belgium taking on 11th ranked Canada in the first match at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
Hosts and fifth-placed India will also begin their campaign later in the day when they take on 15th-ranked South Africa in another Pool C clash.
India's arch-rivals Pakistan, who are ranked 13th in the world and placed along with Netherlands, Germany, and Malaysia, will face 16th paced Germany in their opening Pool D fixture on December 1.
While defending champions Australia will kick off their campaign against 10th ranked Ireland on November 30, second-ranked and World Cup runner-ups Argentina will square off with Spain on November 29 in their opening match.
A total of 16 countries are participating in the tournament and they have been divided into four pools consisting of four teams each.
The pool toppers will cement their place directly into the quarterfinals, while the second and third placed teams will have to earn their spots via play-offs.
Here is the complete schedule of Hockey World Cup 2018 and timings:
POOLS:
Pool A: Argentina, New Zealand, Spain, France
Pool B: Australia, England, Ireland, China
Pool C: Belgium, India, Canada, South Africa
Pool D: Netherlands, Germany, Malaysia, Pakistan
November 28
Pool C- Belgium vs Canada – 4:30 pm
Pool C – India v South Africa- 6:30 pm
November 29
Pool A – Argentina vs Spain – 4:30 pm
Pool A – New Zealand vs France- 6:30 pm
November 30
Pool B – Australia vs Ireland- 4:30 pm
Pool B – England vs China- 6:30 pm
December 1
Pool D – Netherlands vs Malaysia- 4:30 pm
Pool D – Germany vs Pakistan- 4:30 pm
December 2
Pool C – Canada vs South Africa- 4:30 pm
Pool C – India vs Belgium- 6:30 pm
December 3
Pool A – Spain vs France- 4:30 pm
Pool A – New Zealand vs Argentina- 6:30 pm
December 4
Pool B – England vs Australia- 4:30 pm
Pool B – Ireland vs China- 6:30 pm
December 5
Pool D – Germany vs Netherlands- 4:30 pm
Pool D – Malaysia vs Pakistan- 4:30 pm
December 6
Match 17 – Pool A – Spain vs New Zealand- 4:30 pm
Match 18 – Pool A – Argentina vs France- 6:30 pm
December 7
Pool B – Australia vs China- 4:30 pm
Pool B – Ireland vs England- 6:30 pm
December 8
Pool C – Belgium vs South Africa- 4:30 pm
Pool C – Canada vs India- 6:30 pm
December 9
Pool D – Malaysia vs Germany- 4:30 pm
Pool D – Netherlands vs Pakistan – 6:30 pm
December 10
Crossover – 2nd Pool A vs 3rd Pool B- 4:15 pm
Crossover – 2nd Pool B vs 3rd Pool A- 6:30 pm
December 11
Crossover – 2nd Pool C vs 3rd Pool D- 4:15 pm
Crossover – 2nd Pool D vs 3rd Pool C- 6:30 pm
December 12
Quarterfinal – 1st Pool A vs Winner Match 26- 4:15 pm
Quarterfinal – 1st Pool B vs Winner Match 25- 6:30 pm
December 13
Quarterfinal – 1st Pool C vs Winner Match 28- 4:15 pm
Quarterfinal – 1st Pool D vs Winner Match 27- 6:30 pm
December 15
Semifinal – Winner Match 29 vs Winner Match 32- 3:30 pm
Semifinal – Winner Match 30 vs Winner Match 31- 6:00 pm
December 16
3rd/4th place playoff – Loser Match 33 vs Loser Match 34- 4:00 pm
Final – Winner Match 33 vs Winner Match 34- 6:30 pm
