(Hockey News) Season 5 of the FIH Hockey Pro League is set to begin with an exciting opener featuring Argentina and Great Britain, both in the women’s and men’s categories, on December 6, 2023, in Santiago del Estero, Argentina. Additionally, India’s women’s team and Ireland’s men’s team, promoted from the inaugural FIH Hockey Nations Cup, will embark on their first matches against China and the Netherlands respectively in Bhubaneswar, India.
The full match schedule for the season, including all venues, dates, and timings, has been revealed by the International Hockey Federation. As previously announced in April, the FIH Hockey Pro League will be showcasing six “mini-tournaments” in different locations:
– Santiago del Estero, Argentina (6-11 December 2023)
– Buenos Aires, Argentina (14-19 February 2024)
– Bhubaneswar and Rourkela, India (3-25 February 2024)
– Antwerp, Belgium (22 May-2 June 2024)
– Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre, Great Britain (1-12 June 2024)
– Utrecht and Amsterdam, Netherlands (22-30 June 2024)
For the first time in the history of the FIH Hockey Pro League, the promotion/relegation principle will be applied in Season 5, introducing two teams that qualified through the inaugural FIH Hockey Nations Cup held last year. These teams are India in the women’s category and Ireland in the men’s category. India is taking the place of New Zealand (women), who withdrew from the upcoming season, while Ireland is replacing New Zealand (men), who were relegated at the end of the previous season.
Moreover, there’s an exciting new incentive for the champions of FIH Hockey Pro League Season 5. They will be rewarded with a direct qualification spot for the Women’s and Men’s FIH Hockey World Cup 2026, adding an extra level of significance to the tournament.
Also Read: India suffers a 0-2 loss to Germany, concluding their tour with three consecutive defeats.
