Three men's and three women's tournaments will be held, with eight teams assigned to each by the FIH Competitions Committee.

Eight teams from each gender will qualify for the HWL semi-finals, the top two in each competition plus the two third-placed sides who are ranked highest in the FIH world standings.

Men's round two competition will begin in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka between March 4 and 12, where the hosts will be joined by Canada, Oman, Egypt, China, Sri Lanka, Ghana and Fiji.

The second men's tournament will then be hosted by Ireland at an unconfirmed venue in Ulster - between March 11 and 19.

Joining the Irish, who qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, will be fellow Europeans France, Poland, Ukraine, Italy, Wales, Scotland and Austria.

Rounding off the men's action will be an event in Tunapuna in Trinidad and Tobago between March 25 and April 2, where the hosts will welcome Malaysia, Japan, Russia, United States, Barbados, Chile and Switzerland.

Women's competition will begin in Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur between January 14 and 22, with Ireland, Italy, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Singapore, Fiji and Wales the guests.

Spain will then host Scotland, Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Ghana, and one more team to be confirmed, in Valencia between February 4 and 12.

Action for the women will be concluded in West Vancouver in Canada between April 1 and 9, with India, Belarus, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Chile and France joining the hosts.

The HWL semi-finals will take place in June and July, where places in the final will be up for grabs.

There will also be at least ten qualification berths available for the 2018 World Cups.

The women's World Cup will be held in London, with Bhubaneswar in India hosting the men's event.