Nine teams qualify

Apart from hosts India, Pan American champions Canada, Asia Cup winners South Korea, Africa Cup of Nations title holders South Africa and Oceania Cup champs Australia have qualified for the event.

Top four finishers in the 12th EuroHockey Nations Championships, England, Germany, Netherlands and Spain have also made it to the mega-event.

However, 18 teams still have a chance to claim one berth each from the three remaining slots for the event from the three World Cup qualifiers to be held in Lille, France from October 31-November 8; Invercargill, New Zealand from November 7-15 and Quilmes, Argentina from November 14-22.