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How it works

Format

A record 146 nations have entered to compete across all levels of the competition in 2025
Format header image
2025 Qualifier group winners
Format
Qualifiers

2025

  • Dates: 10-13 April 2025

  • Round-robin with 6 groups of 3 teams*

  • 1 host nation per group (each host was a competing nation)

  • 3-day events: each tie consisted of two singles and one doubles match

  • 6 group winners progressed to 2025 Finals Shenzhen in September

  • Group winners: Great Britain, Japan, Kazakhstan, Spain, Ukraine, USA

  • Remaining 12 nations to compete in November's 2025 Play-offs (see below)

  • Read the 2025 Qualifiers week round-up here

*Automatic qualification for 2025 hosts (China) and 2024 world champions (Italy)

2026-

  • Home-or-away ties will return in the Qualifiers from 2026 onwards

Format Finals 2025
Format
Finals

Date

16-21 September 2025

Venue

Shenzhen Bay Sports Centre Arena, Shenzhen, China

Format

  • Knockout draw with 8 teams (Quarter-finals, Semi-finals, Final)

  • 6 Qualifiers group winners (Great Britain, Japan, Kazakhstan, Spain, Ukraine, USA)

  • 1 defending champion (Italy)

  • 1 host nation (China)

Format Play-offs 2025
Format
Play-offs

Date

w/c 10 November 2025

Format

  • 12 nations finishing 2nd or 3rd in Qualifier groups, plus 9 teams promoted from Group I:

– Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Switzerland

– Argentina, Belgium, Croatia, India, Mexico, New Zealand, Portugal, Türkiye, Slovenia

  • Round-robin with 7 groups of 3 teams

  • 1 host nation per group (host will be a competing nation)

  • 3-day events: each tie to consist of two singles and one doubles match

  • 7 group winners progress to 2026 Qualifiers

  • Remaining 14 teams to compete in Group I in 2026

Regional Groups

Groups I-IV

Groups I-IV are divided into regions: Africa, Americas, Asia/Oceania and Europe. At Group I and II level, Europe and Africa are merged to form Europe/Africa. Group I is the highest regional division and Group IV the lowest.

Group events are week-long played at one location. Each Group is initially split into round-robin pools, with play-offs then deciding promotion and relegation. The exact format of each Group varies according to the number of participating teams.

Find out further details about 2025's Regional events below:

Ties

How the ties are played

In 2025, all ties at the Qualifiers, Finals, and Play-offs will consist of three matches (two singles followed by doubles).

The above format amendments are required in 2025 to transition from a 12-team Finals in 2024 to an 8-team Finals in 2025 and beyond. Home-or-away ties will return in the Qualifiers and Play-offs from 2026 onwards.

Ties in Groups I-IV are contested in a best-of-three matches format and are played on one day. There are two singles followed by a doubles. Due to the multi-nation format, ties take place on successive days.