The Indian capital of New Delhi will host field hockey's World Cup for men in 2010, the sport's governing body announced on Wednesday.

The 12-nation tournament will be co-hosted by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) and the Indian Hockey Confederation (IHC) at New Delhi's National Stadium.

"This is a special day for the FIH and Indian hockey," FIH president Els van Breda Vriesman told reporters here.

"The World Cup is the FIH's highest-profile event. It is our goal that the 2010 World Cup will be the most successful event in the history of hockey -- that is the challenge we have set ourselves."

India, once the masters of the game with eight Olympic titles, have hosted the World Cup once before in 1982 in the country's financial capital of Mumbai, then known as Bombay.

The tournament will be held in February 2010 but the exact dates will be finalised by March next year.

Indian hockey chief Kunwar Gill said he was confident of holding a successful World Cup.

"It is a great honour for the country and we must now work with diligence and spirit to repay the faith that has been shown in Indian hockey," said Gill.

New Delhi is also due to host the Commonwealth Games in 2010.