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Muramoto/Takahashi (JPN) congratulate Kaori Sakamoto during the 2023 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Saitama (JPN) @ISU

Japan leads the six countries that qualified for the ISU World Team Trophy in Figure Skating (April 13-16) in Tokyo (JPN). The host country that has their new World Champions Kaori Sakamoto, Shoma Uno and Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihara on the roster will be joined by the teams from the USA, Canada, Korea, Italy and France. The ISU World Team Trophy is a biennal event.

Overview of the qualified teams

Following a successful season and ISU World Championship, Japan tops the standings with 9453 points. The USA follow with 8721 points. Canada collected 5978 points to rank third. Korea stands in fourth on 5477 points. Italy qualified with 5260 points while France has 3943 points. Korea will take part for the first time in the ISU World Team Trophy.

Shoma Uno (JPN) celebrates during the 2023 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Saitama (JPN) @ISU

Japan boasts three new World Champions Shoma Uno, Kaori Sakamoto and Pair Skaters Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihara. The team is completed by ISU Grand Prix Final Champion Mai Mihara, Kazuki Tomono and Ice Dancers Kana Muramoto/Daisuke Takahashi.

Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara (JPN) compete during the ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Saitama (JPN) @ISU

The USA has not yet announced their team, but newly minted World Ice Dance Madison Chock/Evan Bates, World Pairs silver medalists Alexa Knierim/Brandon Frazier and World bronze medalist Ilia Malinin as well as Jason Brown are expected to compete.

Ilia Malinin (USA) poses during the 2022 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Saitama (JPN) @ISU

Team Canada is led by 2023 World Ice Dance bronze medalists  Piper Gilles/Paul Poirier, 2023 Four Continents bronze medalists Deanna Stellato/Maxime Deschamps and 2023 Four Continents silver medalist Keegan Messing.

Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier (CAN) compete during the 2022 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Saitam (JPN) @ISU

Korea comes with their new World silver medalists Haein Lee and Junwhan Cha to Tokyo.

Haein Lee (KOR) celebrates during the ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Saitama (JPN) @ISU

World silver Ice Dance medalists  Charlene Guignard/Marco Fabbri, 2023 World Pairs bronze medalists Sara Conti/Niccolo Macii and 2023 European silver medalist Matteo Rizzo headline Team Italy.

Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri (ITA) compete during the 2022 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Saitama (JPN) @ISU

Team France includes 2023 European Champion Adam Siao Him Fa and Kevin Aymoz .

Kevin Aymoz (FRA) competes during the 2022 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Saitama (JPN) @ISU

Competition format and qualifying

The ISU World Team Trophy format is based on a competition consisting of the six best national teams from ISU Members with a special provision for the host ISU Member to be included. Each team will be composed of two Men, two Ladies, one Pair Skating couple and one Ice Dance couple, i.e. a total of eight skaters per team.

Team Japan pictured during the 2021 ISU World Team Trophy in Osaka (JPN) @ISU

The team event consists of two phases of competition, the Short Program/Short Dance and the Free Skating/Free Dance. Teams are awarded 12 to 1 team points (12 points for first place, 1 point for 12^th place) for Men and Ladies and respectively 12 to 7 points for Pairs and Ice Dance couples in the Short Program/Rhythm Dance and in the Free Skating/Free Dance. The standings are calculated according to the sum of the team points achieved in each phase of the event. Several tie breakers are in place.

The teams qualified based on a scoring scale used for the ISU World Standing points scored by their best two Women and Men, their best Pair and best Ice Dance couple primarily at ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating events and Final season 2022/23 and the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2023, plus possibly the ISU European Figure Skating Championships / ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2023, the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships 2023 and ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating season 2022/23

For more information, full entry lists and results please see the ISU event website. Follow the discussion on social media by using the hashtag #WTTFigure.