Four nations have automatically qualified for the finals already - 2019 champions and runners-up France and Australia respectively, hosts Hungary and wildcard Czech Republic.

The remaining 16 nations will play their first round matches over the next two days with some of the sport's biggest stars in action.

Day one of the ties sees the opening two singles rubbers played before the second day features the reverse singles and if necessary a deciding doubles rubber.

The United States host Latvia in Everett, Washington, boasting a strong looking singles line-up as Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin faces Anastasija Sevastova before Serena Williams takes on Jelena Ostapenko.

The Netherlands host Belarus at the Hague with the opening matches seeing Kiki Bertens take on Aliaksandra Sasnovich and Arantxa Rus up against Aryna Sabalenka.

Romania, minus world number two Simona Halep host Russia at Cluj-Napoca with Elena Gabriela Ruse facing Ekaterina Alexandrova before Ana Bogdan faces Veronika Kudermetova.

Germany have a 100% winning record against Brazil and face them again in Florianopolis with Teliana Pereira playing Laura Siegemund in the first rubber before Gabriela Ce faces Tatjana Maria.

Spain face Japan on the clay of La Manga, with the visitors boasting multiple Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka who opens proceedings against Sara Sorribes Tormo, before Carla Suarez-Navarro faces Misaki Doi in the second rubber.

World number five Belinda Bencic, the highest ranked player in action in this round of ties, leads Switzerland's challenge as they host Canada in Biel.

Bencic plays the second rubber against Eugenie Bouchard after Jil Teichmann opens proceedings for the hosts against Leylah Annie Fernandez.

Belgium host Kazakhstan in Kortrijk with Elise Mertens up against Zarina Diyas before Ysaline Bonaventure takes on Yulia Putintseva.

The final qualifying match sees Slovakia host Great Britain in Bratislava with Anna Karolina Schmiedlova opening up for the hosts against Heather Watson before Viktoria Kuzmova takes on Harriet Dart.

The winning eight nations from this first qualifying round join the automatic four qualifiers in completing the final line-up of 12, who will be drawn into four groups of three next week.

Nations will play each team in their group in round robin ties with group winners advancing to the semi-finals.

Alongside the qualifiers for the main competition, action is also taking place throughout this week in some of the other Fed Cup leagues, including in the Europe-Africa zone where there are round robin matches as well as promotion and relegation playoffs and the Asia-Oceania zone, where round robin ties are also taking place.