England will open their bid to reach the 2014 World Cup with an away tie against Molodova next year, the FA confirmed yesterday as it released a schedule of qualifying fixtures.

England, aiming to qualify for a fifth consecutive World Cup, will finish their Group H campaign with back-to-back home fixtures at Wembley Stadium against Montenegro and Poland in October 2013.

Their opening fixture against the Moldovans in Chisinau is a repeat of their first qualifying game for the 1998 World Cup in 1996.

Calendar: Moldova vs England (Sept. 7, 2012); England vs Ukraine (Sept. 11); England vs San Marino (October 12); Poland vs England (October 16); San Marino vs England (March 22, 2013); Montenegro vs England (March 26); England vs Moldova (Sept. 6); Ukraine vs England (Sept. 10); England vs Montenegro (October 11); England vs Poland (October 15).

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