The 10th men's World Cup 2002 in Kuala Lumpur will have 16 teams instead of the 12-team format, which has been followed since the fifth World Cup, in 1982, in Bombay.

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) decided in July 2001 that the competition format would be two pools of eight teams instead of the experimental 4 x 4.

The 16 teams for the event comprises five from Asia, six from Europe, two each from Asia-Pacific and the Americas, and one from the African continent.

Eight teams earned direct qualification while the other seven qualified through the qualifier held in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Malaysia came through as hosts.

Japan returns after almost three decades, having taken part in the first two World Cups in Barcelona 1971 and Amsterdam in 1973.

Canada is the only side missing from the last World Cup. They failed to qualify, after the losing to New Zealand in the qualifier.

Country	How they qualified
The Netherlands	Defending champions
Malaysia	Host
Germany	European champion
Korea	Asia champion
South Africa	African champion
Cuba	Americas Cup champion
Australia	3rd at the Sydney 2000 Olympics
Pakistan	4th at the Sydney 2000 Olympics
England	6th at the Sydney 2000 Olympics
Argentina	Winner of the qualifier
Spain	2nd place at the qualifier
Poland	3rd place at the qualifier
Belgium	4th place at the qualifier
India	5th place at the qualifier
Japan	6th place at the qualifier
New Zealand	7th place at the qualifier