The West Midlands is set to host the Kabaddi World Cup 2025, with tickets going on sale on Friday, 24 January.
This marks the first time the ancient sport of Kabaddi will be hosted outside Asia.
Kabaddi, which is popular in South Asia and is the most-watched sports league in India after cricket’s Indian Premier League, is a fast-paced contact sport where the aim is to enter your opponents’ territory, tag them, and make it back without being tackled.
Hosted as a joint venture between World Kabaddi, the British Kabaddi League, the West Midlands Combined Authority, and the four hosting local authorities of Wolverhampton, Coventry, Birmingham, and Walsall, the Kabaddi World Cup 2025 will take place across venues in the region from 17 to 23 March.
Pre-registrations for tickets have already reached the thousands. When tickets launch, fans will have just 52 days to secure their seats for their desired events. Ticket prices will range from £5 to £25, depending on the event day and ticket category.
The tournament is backed by £500,000 of funding from the UK Government’s Commonwealth Games Legacy Enhancement Fund.
Key dates and locations for fans to note are as follows:
- Group stages: 17–21 March in Wolverhampton, Coventry, Birmingham, and Walsall
- Men’s Quarter-Finals: 21 March, Walsall
- Men’s and Women’s Semi-Finals: 22 March, Wolverhampton
- Men’s and Women’s Finals: 23 March, Wolverhampton
Ashok Das, president of World Kabaddi, said: “When I first had a vision to introduce my much-loved sport to the UK over 20 years ago, I could never have anticipated that this day would come. The day we switch on ticket sales for the first Kabaddi World Cup to take place outside Asia, right here in my home in the West Midlands.”
Richard Parker, mayor of the West Midlands, said: “Becoming the first place outside South Asia to host the Kabaddi World Cup is a huge moment for the West Midlands.”
He added: “The 2025 Kabaddi World Cup will be more than just a sporting event – it’s a celebration of the diversity, energy, and spirit that makes the West Midlands truly special.”
The West Midlands will welcome players, supporters, and spectators from countries such as India, the USA, Kenya, Tanzania, and closer to home, Scotland and England, providing an economic boost to the region.
