How it works

Format

20 teams will compete to win the historic Billie Jean King Cup trophy in 2025

Format

Qualifiers

Date: w/c 7 April 2025

Format: 7 groups of 3 teams*; Round-robin; 1 host nation per group (host will be a competing nation); 3-day events; Each tie to consist of two singles and one doubles match; 7 group winners progress to 2025 Finals**

*Depending on the choice of Finals host nation, the number of Qualifier events is subject to change

**Must have a Top 50 Nations Ranking or at least one player with a WTA Top 10 singles ranking. If host does not meet this criteria, the host nation place will be awarded to a different nation.

Format

Play-offs

Date: November 2025 (exact date TBC)

Format: 7 groups of 3 teams; Round-robin; 1 host nation per group (host will be a competing nation); 3-day events; Each tie to consist of two singles and one doubles match; 7 group winners progress to 2026 Qualifiers

Format

Finals

Date: November 2025 (exact date TBC)

Format: 8-team knockout draw

Teams: 7 x Qualifiers group winners*; 1 x host nation**

*Depending on the choice of Finals host nation, the number of Qualifier events is subject to change

**Must have a Top 50 Nations Ranking or at least one player with a WTA Top 10 singles ranking. If host does not meet this criteria, the host nation place will be awarded to a different nation.

The above format amendments are required in 2025 to transition from a 12-team Finals in 2024 to an 8-team Finals in 2025 and beyond. Home-or-away ties will return in the Qualifiers and Play-offs from 2026 onwards.

Regional Groups

Groups I-IV

Groups I-IV are divided into regions: Africa, Americas, Asia/Oceania and Europe. At Group I and II level, Europe and Africa are merged to form Europe/Africa. Group I is the highest regional division and Group IV the lowest.

Group events are week-long played at one location. Each Group is initially split into round-robin pools, with play-offs then deciding promotion and relegation. The exact format of each Group varies according to the number of participating teams.

Ties

How the ties are played

All ties at the Finals will consist of three matches (two singles followed by doubles).

Qualifier and Play-off ties will be played as best-of-five matches (four singles followed by doubles) over two days.

Ties in Groups I-IV are contested in a best-of-three matches format and are played on one day. There are two singles followed by a doubles. Due to the multi-nation format, ties take place on successive days.