Online ticket sale for semis, final of Hockey World Cup begins

Hockey fans can now book tickets for the decisive stages of the Odisha Hockey Men's World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018, with online sales for the semi-finals, final and other knockout matches opening on Friday.

The announcement was made jointly by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) and Hockey India, 75 days ahead of the tournament. The 14th edition of the men's hockey World Cup will be held at the iconic Kalinga Hockey Stadium from November 28 to December 16.

Tickets for the semi-finals and final have been priced at Rs 250 for the East Stand and Rs 150 each for the North and South Stands.

Online tickets for the pool-stage matches had already gone on sale in May. Those tickets were priced at Rs 200 for the East Stand and Rs 100 for the North and South Stands.

The knockout phase will begin with the quarter-finals on December 12 and 13. The semi-finals and the third-place playoff will be held on December 15, while the World Cup final is scheduled for December 16.

The tournament will feature 36 matches over 19 days, bringing together 16 teams in what organisers expect to be a major international sporting spectacle in Odisha.

The opening match will see world No. 3 Belgium take on world No. 11 Canada on November 28 at the 15,000-capacity Kalinga Hockey Stadium.

Hosts India, ranked fifth in the world, will also begin their campaign on the opening day, facing 15th-ranked South Africa.

With the knockout tickets now available, anticipation is expected to increase among both local supporters and international hockey followers. A strong home crowd could provide India with an important advantage as the team seeks to make a deep run in the tournament on home soil.

The event is also expected to further strengthen Bhubaneswar's reputation as one of India's leading destinations for international hockey, following its successful hosting of major global hockey competitions in recent years.