China and Italy will clash in the opening match of the Hockey World League Semi-Final event in Brussels ©Getty Images

China and Italy will clash in the opening match of the women's International Hockey Federation (FIH) Hockey World League Semi-Final in Brussels after the governing body confirmed the schedule for the event.

It comes after Italy, Malaysia, Scotland and Spain completed the list of teams due to compete in the tournament, which runs from June 21 to July 2 at the Stade Fallon.

The four nations will join Hockey World Cup champions The Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, China, South Korea and hosts Belgium at the event.

Qualification for next year's Hockey World Cup in India and the Hockey World League final in Auckland will also be at stake.

China and Italy have been drawn in Pool A, along with the Dutch side and Scotland.

Pool B features Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand and Spain.

On the first day of competition, Australia, currently ranked at number four in the world, play Malaysia and The Netherlands entertain Scotland.

The Netherlands are the headline team due to compete in Brussels ©Getty Images
The Netherlands are the headline team due to compete in Brussels ©Getty Images

The last of four matches on June 21 sees New Zealand entertain Spain.

At least four games are scheduled to take place on each day of the event.

The FIH has announced supporters interested in buying tickets for the Semi-Final can take advantage of an early bird offer, with discounts of 25 per cent.

An adult can purchase a ticket for the entire tournament for €120 (£102/$127), while seats for the quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals start at €57 (£48/$61 dollars).

The other women's Hockey World League Semi-Final will take place at Wits Hockey Club in Johannesburg in South Africa between July 8 and 23.

Reigning Hockey Champions Trophy and Hockey World League champions Argentina, England, who will include many of the team which won Olympic gold for Britain at last year's Games, Rio 2016 bronze medallists Germany, Japan, reigning Pan American champions USA and hosts South Africa are all due to compete in Johannesburg.

India, Chile, Ireland and Poland have also qualified.