IRELAND begin their hockey World Cup qualifying campaign in Zimbabwe on August 1st, with their opening Pool A match against India the first tie of the 12-team tournament.

The match schedule announced yesterday by the International Hockey Federation, sees Ireland take on South Africa in their second match, followed by England, Canada and Japan before the tournament moves into the play-off phase.

The top two teams from Pool A and B will automatically qualify for the 1998 World Cup final in the Netherlands with the two pools' third placed teams playing off for the fifth and final qualifying place.

Ireland meet three of their pool A opponents England, Canada and Japan in a five nations tournament in Vancouver, beginning tomorrow week.