Punjab, Odisha and Tamil Nadu race to host 2030 FIH Hockey World Cups
Hockey India secretary general Bhola Nath Singh confirmed the three states are frontrunners for the men’s and women’s events.
Punjab, Odisha and Tamil Nadu are in contention to host the 2030 FIH Hockey World Cups for men and women. Odisha has hosted the men’s World Cup twice, while Tamil Nadu staged the Junior World Cup last year.
Key takeaways
- Punjab, Odisha and Tamil Nadu are frontrunners for the 2030 FIH World Cups
- Odisha has hosted the men’s World Cup twice
- Tamil Nadu organised the men’s Junior World Cup last year in Chennai and Madurai
- Punjab last hosted an international hockey event in 2009
Hockey India secretary general Bhola Nath Singh confirmed to PTI that Punjab, Odisha and Tamil Nadu are the frontrunners to host the 2030 FIH World Cups for both men and women.
The development confirms India is eyeing the hosting rights for the next edition of the showpiece events. Singh said Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Punjab are all in the race, and added that Odisha will be the first preference, although the hosting rights have not been confirmed.
He said his intention is to see both World Cups hosted in India.
Hosting history and state records
Odisha has hosted the men’s World Cup twice, at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium in Bhubaneswar and at the 20,000 seat Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium in Rourkela, from 13 to 29 January 2023.
The 2023 Men’s FIH Hockey World Cup was the 15th edition of the quadrennial world championship for men’s national field hockey teams organized by the International Hockey Federation. Tamil Nadu organised the men’s Junior World Cup last year in Chennai and Madurai.
Punjab, regarded as the cradle of Indian hockey, has never hosted the mega event. The state is currently hosting the men’s Asian Champions Trophy, its first international hockey tournament in 17 years. The last international hockey event hosted by Punjab was the Gold Cup in 2009.
Singh’s vision and upcoming events
Singh said his primary focus since taking charge had been to take hockey to every corner of the country. He said Tamil Nadu has produced many Olympians, and Hockey India took the Junior World Cup there last year.
He said the purpose of taking hockey to every part of the country is to build infrastructure of international standards.
He recalled that when he became secretary general he saw most players in the team were from Punjab, and that players including captain Harmanpreet Singh had told him they had played across the world but their parents had never seen them play an international match in Punjab.
He said he met Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who said he was ready and would do it. The Women’s Asian Champions Trophy will be held from November 19 to 28 in Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh.
No international tournament has been held in Madhya Pradesh so far.
Next steps and competition model
The 2026 Men’s FIH Hockey World Cup was the 16th edition of the quadrennial world championship for men’s national field hockey teams organized by the International Hockey Federation. It was held from 15 to 30 August 2026 in Wavre, Belgium and Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Recent World Cup hosting details
Tournament | Year | Host |
|---|---|---|
Men’s FIH Hockey World Cup | 2023 | India |
Men’s FIH Hockey World Cup | 2026 | Belgium and Netherlands |
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