The pools and schedule for the Vitality Hockey Womens World Cup London 2018 has been officially released by the International Hockey Federation (FIH).
The 16 national women's teams qualified for the event now know who they will face in next year's pinnacle event.
POOLS & SCHEDULE
A look
at the schedule reveals some fantastic match-ups as the top teams in the world prepare to go head-to-head.
In Pool A, the world number one side and current holders of the World Cup, Netherlands, await the challenge of Asian giants China and Korea as well as rising European stars Italy.
Pool B is headed by the host nation and world number two team England. They will face tough challenges from USA, who won the 2017 Hockey World League Semi-Final in Johannesburg, recently crowned Asian champions India, and Ireland.
Argentina are ranked number three in the world, and they have European rivals Germany and Spain to contend with, along with African continental champions South Africa in Pool C.
Pool D sees Oceania rivals the Vantage Black sticks and Australia go head to head along with Japan and 2017 Rabobank EuroHockey Championship runners-up Belgium.
With England's 10,000-seater Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park sold out for six sessions, including all England's Pool matches - plus their potential quarter-final, the semi-finals and final, fans should not hesitate in snapping up the remaining tickets.
For those who can't make it to the venue, this event will be broadcast to millions across the world in over 100 countries through FIH's global broadcaster partners.
With eight months between now and the Vitality Hockey Womens World Cup London 2018 and today's release of the match schedule, the countdown has really begun.
Keep up to date with all the latest news about this event via the official website and through FIH social media channels - Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat.
- This story has been automatically published using a media release from Hockey NZ
