The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has confirmed the qualifying procedures of the teams for the Hockey World Cup. Teams will qualify for the 2023 Hockey World Cup in India based on live continental tournament rankings rather than a qualifying round.
Four teams from Asia, including host India, will play in the World Cup, while seven teams from Europe will make it to the mega event, while two teams from continental Australia and South and North America, and one team from Africa will play in the World Cup. The FIH had earlier decided in June that 11 teams would play in the continental rankings and five in the qualifying rounds to advance to the World Cup.
For the 2018 World Cup, one continental champion team from each continent made it to the World Cup. The Asia Cup was won by India, which was still the host, so it was replaced by China in the World Hockey League. Granted, the other 10 teams also qualified for the World Cup by playing the qualifying event Hockey World League. According to the new rules, Pakistan will have to reach at least the semi-finals of the Asia Cup to make it. If India does not reach the semi-finals, then Pakistan will have to come in the top three.