There are 16 teams participating in the tournament. The host country is automatically guaranteed a spot, while the remaining 15 spots are determined through regional qualifiers. These qualifiers, typically comprising several European tournaments and one each for the Americas and Asia-Oceania, are held about a year before the championship. [3]
The teams are then drawn into four groups (A–D), each consisting of four teams. Groups A and B are drawn from the top-ranked teams according to the IFF rankings, while Groups C and D are drawn from the remaining teams. Within a group, teams play against each other. The top two teams from Groups A and B advance directly to the quarter-finals. The other two teams from Groups A and B and the top two teams from Groups C and D compete in a playoff preliminary round. [3] [4]
Next, the playoffs are played by elimination. The eliminated teams, including the teams that did not qualify for the playoffs, participate in additional placement matches.
The entire tournament spans nine days, from one weekend to another. [4]
Format history
The first World Championship in 1996 was preceded by two editions of the European Championship. [5] [6]
Until the 2008 World Championship, with the exception of the first tournament, teams were divided into divisions (A, B, and later C). In Division A, teams competed in two groups, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals. The winners of the semi-finals played in the final, while the losing teams contested the bronze medal match. The bottom teams of both groups played for relegation from Division A, while the winner of Division B was promoted. [3]
Until the 2006 World Championship, the tournament was held in May. [7]
Qualification was introduced for the 2010 World Championship, but only from 2014 onwards did all teams (except the host nation) have to qualify. Previously, the top teams from the previous championship received automatic qualification. [3]
The current system, where the higher-ranked teams are placed into two groups and the remaining teams into two separate groups, was introduced at the 2014 World Championship, along with the playoff preliminary round. [8]
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