A record 26 nations will take part in the biennial WSF event hosted by the French Squash Federation between November 12 and 17 and staged in France for the first time in its 33-year history.

The Championship will be held at the La Parnasse Arena – where action will take place on three new state-of-the-art all-glass show courts – as well as at the eight-court Club des Costières.

England, six times champions since 1985, finished as runners-up to hosts Egypt in 2008 and to Australia in 2010 in New Zealand.

Led by world number two Laura Massaro (pictured top) – and including Jenny Duncalf and Alison Waters, both in the world top eight – England are expected to face rivals Egypt in the final.

Second seeds Egypt will be led for the first time by Raneem El Weleily, the world number three from Alexandria.

The squad also features teenagers Nour El Sherbini and Nour El Tayeb, ranked five and 20 in the world, respectively.

Hosts France, appearing in the event for the 14th successive time since 1987, have been named as ninth seeds – and will line up against European rivals Netherlands and Germany in Pool H.

World number one Nicol David will be hoping to lead Malaysia to the world title in Nimes

Third seeds Malaysia, led by long-time world number one Nicol David, will be bidding to win the title for the first time after three successive third-place finishes.

Hong Kong are seeded to record their best ever finish in 11 appearances since 1985.

Seeded fourth, the team will be led by Annie Au, the world number six.

Defending champions Australia, record nine-time winners of the title, are the sixth seeds, behind fifth seeds New Zealand.

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