In what promises a rollicking start to next year's Hero Honda [Images] FIH Hockey World Cup, hosts India [Images] will take on archrivals Pakistan on the opening day of the mega-event, to be held in New Delhi [Images] from February 28 to March 13.

According to event itinerary released by the International Hockey Federation on Tuesday, India plays Pakistan in the third Pool B match on the opening day, while Spain takes on South Africa [Images] in the tournament opener followed by an England [Images] and Australia [Images] encounter.

India next plays Australia, on March 2, and then takes on Spain on March 4, followed by encounter against England on March 6. They round off the pool stage with the game against South Africa on March 8.

Meanwhile, Olympic [Images] and World champions Germany [Images] commence their defence on the second day, March 1, against Korea in Pool A. The day will also see New Zealand [Images] taking on Canada [Images] and the Netherlands facing Argentina.

The semi-finals of the tournament are scheduled for March 11, while the final will be played on March 13.

Teams
Pool A: Argentina, Canada, Germany, Korea, Netherlands, New Zealand
Pool B: Australia, England, India, Pakistan, South Africa, Spain.

Schedule:

Sunday February 28:

16:35 Pool B South Africa vs Spain

18:35 B Australia vs England

20:35 B India vs Pakistan

Monday March 1:

16:35 A New Zealand vs Canada

18:35 A Germany vs Korea

20:35 A Netherlands vs Argentina

Tuesday March 2:

18:35 B Pakistan vs Spain 

20:35 B India vs Australia

Wednesday March 3: 

16:35 A Canada vs Germany

18:35 A Argentina vs Korea

20:35 A New Zealand vs Netherlands

Thursday March 4: 

16:35 B South Africa vs Australia

18:35 B England vs Pakistan

20:35 B India vs Spain

Friday March 5: 

16:35 A Korea vs New Zealand

18:35 A Netherlands vs Canada

20:35 A Germany vs Argentina

Saturday March 6: 

16:35 B Australia vs Spain

18:35 B South Africa vs Pakistan 

20:35 B India vs England

Sunday March 7: 

16:35 A Korea vs Canada

18:35 A New Zealand vs Argentina

20:35 A Germany vs Netherlands

Monday March 8: 

16:35 B Spain vs England

18:35 B Australia vs Pakistan

20:35 B India vs South Africa

Tuesday March 9: 

16:35 A Germany vs New Zealand

18:35 A Netherlands vs Korea

20:35 A Canada vs Argentina

Wednesday March 10: Rest Day.

Thursday March 11: 

15:35 Classification.11-12 6th Pool A vs 6th Pool B

18:05 Semi-final 1st Pool A vs 2nd Pool B

20:35 Semi-final 1st Pool B vs 2nd Pool A

Friday March 12: 

15:35 Clas. 9-10 5th Pool A vs 5th Pool B

18:05 Clas. 7-8 4th Pool A vs 4th Pool B

20:35 Clas. 5-6 3rd Pool A vs 3rd Pool B.

Saturday March 13: 

15:35 Bronze medal match

18:05 Final

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