The key changes for the 2025 edition include an updated distribution of continental spots based on 2024 ratings
FIDE has updated the qualification quotas for the 2025 World Cup, and the Women’s World Cup – one of the most important global chess events, next to the Olympiad and the World Championship matches.
“The World Cup represents a flagship event for FIDE, and each cycle, we carefully consider changes and adjustments. The final distribution of continental spots was determined after the ECU and ACC used their rights (described in the Rules: World Cup - Art 2.1.VII; Women’s World Cup – Art 2.1.VI) and transferred numbers of Olympiad spots to their Continental Events,” said Grandmaster Pavel Tregubov, secretary of FIDE’s Global Strategy Commission.
“It should be noted that in the Open section of the Olympiad, only 80 teams will gain Olympiad spots for their federations, as the number of spots is reduced accordingly. Particularly, Europe will get 11 fewer Olympiad spots, and Americas - 9 fewer Olympiad spots. In the Women’s section of the Olympiad, 35 teams instead of 50 will gain Olympiad spots”, he added.
For the World Cup, the number of players who can qualify remains the same – 206 – but the allocation of spots has changed, reflecting the new ratings and standings as of January 2024.
Africa now has three spots, while the Americas have 21. Europe is on 41, while Asia is on 35. The nominations by FIDE President have increased from three to four.
For the Women’s World Cup, the continental spots distribution has been adjusted based on updated rating lists. A slight modification in the number of spots has been made: Europe will now have 21 spots and Asia 20. Additionally, nominations by the FIDE President have increased from one to two.
Final Distribution of Qualification Spots for Continental Events
|
SPOTS |
Africa |
Americas |
Asia |
Europe |
|
World Cup |
||||
|
Granted |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
Top 8 juniors |
0 |
0 |
6 |
2 |
|
Top 60 players |
0 |
9 |
26 |
25 |
|
Transferred Olympiad spots |
- |
9 |
- |
11 |
|
TOTAL |
3 |
21 |
35 |
41 |
|
Women’s World Cup |
||||
|
Granted |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
Top 4 girls |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
|
Top 23 players |
0 |
0 |
13 |
10 |
|
Transferred Olympiad spots |
- |
7 |
- |
8 |
|
TOTAL |
3 |
10 |
20 |
21 |
Qualification regulations can be found here:
World Cup
handbook.fide.com/files/handbook/QualificationForWorldCup2025.pdf
Women’s World Cup:
handbook.fide.com/files/handbook/QualificationForWomenWorldCup2025.pdf
For any questions and further information, please contact the Global Strategy Commission - gsc@fide.com
