Explanatory Note about the Format of World League
The FIH World League will be played over 4 rounds over a 2 year period, with the Rounds 1 and 2 of the first competition taking place in 2012 and Round 3 and Round 4, the final of the competition, being played in 2013. However, 2012 is going a busy year calendar-wise with Olympic Games Qualifying tournaments, Champions Trophies, Champions Challenges and the Olympic Games all being played. If any country wishes to play a Round 1 tournament before the end of 2011, FIH will be sympathetic to any such suggestion.
Format
Teams ranked 1 – 8 in the FIH World Ranking as at 1 January 2011 will be granted a bye through to Round 3; teams ranked 9 – 16 in the FIH World Ranking as at 1 January 2011 will be granted a bye through to Round 2.
Note: All teams must enter by the closing date of Friday, 1 April 2011. This includes teams with byes into Rounds 2 and 3. If a team with a bye does not enter, it will be replaced by the next highest ranked country.
World Ranking points will be awarded to teams at all levels of the FIH World League. Further details of the amount of Ranking Points will follow in due course.
Any team that hosts a tournament that it has not qualified for by performance at a previous round, will be allowed to play in that tournament but at the end of the tournament its ranking and the Ranking Points it is awarded will be from the tournament where it was eliminated.
The number of tournaments in Round 1 will depend entirely on the number of entries. It is FIH’s intention to make these tournaments as local as possible, therefore keeping costs to all participating teams down to a minimum.
Teams winning through to Round 2 will join those ranked 9 – 16 in the FIH World Ranking and will play in tournaments on a more regional basis, which may involve teams from more than 1 continent.
At the end of Round 2, 8 teams will qualify for Round 3 and will join those teams ranked 1 – 8 in the FIH World Ranking, which have been granted a bye through to this round
Round 3 will be played in 2 tournaments, each comprising 8 teams.
The number of teams winning through to the final round, Round 4, will depend on whether the hosts of Round 4 have qualified by performance to play in it.
Men’s teams ranked 1 – 8 as at 1 January 2011 and having a bye through to Round 3
Australia, Germany, Netherlands, England, Spain, Korea, New Zealand and Pakistan
Australia, Germany, Netherlands, England, Spain, Korea, New Zealand and Pakistan
Men’s teams ranked 9 – 16 as at 1 January 2011 and having a bye through to Round 2
India, Canada, Argentina, South Africa, Belgium, China, Malaysia and Japan
India, Canada, Argentina, South Africa, Belgium, China, Malaysia and Japan
Women’s teams ranked 1 – 8 as at 1 January 2011 and having a bye through to Round 3
Argentina, Netherlands, Germany, China, England, Australia, New Zealand and Korea
Argentina, Netherlands, Germany, China, England, Australia, New Zealand and Korea
Women’s teams ranked 9 – 16 as at 1 January 2011 and having a bye through to Round 2
Japan, Spain, India, South Africa, USA, Azerbaijan, Ireland and Chile
Japan, Spain, India, South Africa, USA, Azerbaijan, Ireland and Chile
