New Delhi, Aug. 10 -- After a successful football World Cup, the focus shifts to the men's and women's hockey World Cup to be co-hosted by Netherlands and Belgium from August 15 to 30. Both the men's and women's tournaments will be go simultaneously with the women's final to be played on August 29.

For the first time in a FIH Hockey World Cup, the traditional quarterfinals are replaced with a second round comprising eight teams. Instead of the knockout format of quarterfinals, the second round will allow the qualified teams from the group stage to play two more games before the semifinals.

Pakistan are the most successful side in the men's category, winning four titles, followed by Netherlands, Australia and Germany, who have three each...