During the previous edition of the World Cup, the FIRS determined to end with the celebration of two different tournaments for divisions A and B, and merged all competitions in a whole event integrated in the World Roller Games.[1] Finally the FIRS divided the 23 participant teams into three different competitions.[2]
World Championship
The eight first ranked teams were divided into two groups. The three first qualified teams of each group will join the quarterfinals of the competition with the two group winners of the FIRS Cup groups.[2]
The last qualified team of each group will be dropped to the quarterfinals of the FIRS Cup.
FIRS Cup
The eight teams ranked between 9th and 16th were also divided into two groups. The two group winners will join the quarterfinals of the World Championship while the six remaining teams will play the quarterfinals of the competition with the two teams dropped from the World Championship.
Confederations Cup
The remaining teams played the Confederations Cup. Initially the teams were divided into two groups with the two first qualified teams from each group joining a final stage, consisting in a round-robin tournament. After Egypt rellocation, the format was changed for just one group in a single roun-robin format.
Teams
The 23 teams were divided into three competitions according to their positions in the 2015 FIRS Men's Roller Hockey World Cup. The Division B was renamed as FIRS Cup and the new Division C was named as Confederations Cup.
The two top seeded teams were drawn in different groups. The draw was held in Barcelona on 5 July 2017.[3]
After the withdrawal of Brazil, Egypt moved to FIRS Cup, and the confederation cup was redesigned into a single round-robin tournament.