MEXICO CITY, Mexico (Dec. 8, 2015) –The 2015 World Cup Taekwondo Team Championships  kicked off today for a two-day run at the Sala de Armas, the Olympic fencing venue in the Magdalena Mixihuca Sports Complex in Mexico City, Mexico.

Winners will be decided after the second day of action ends on December 9.

The World Cup is arguably the most exciting event on the taekwondo calendar. While individual taekwondo matches frequently feature tactical, defensive combat, the World Cup, using a team format, features consistently dynamic, offensive action.

In the first round, fighters are matched up by pre-set number. In the second and third rounds, coaches can substitute fighters as the situation demands – signaling each substitution by audio signal.

Eleven nations were represented at the event, which pitches 15 teams - eight male and seven female - against each other.

Each male team has a maximum weight of 442kg for five players, though teams can compete with four persons, or five plus an optional substitutes. Each female team has the same number qualification as the  men, but with a maximum weight of 376kg.

In the male category, the teams represented are (in ranking order): Iran, Russia, Uzbekistan, Korea, Belgium, Azerbaijan, the USA and Mexico. In the female category, the teams represented are: Korea, last year’s champions, Chinese Taipei, China, Russia, the USA, Cote d’Ivoire and Mexico. Teams are permitted a maximum of two foreign players.

The event drew 48 male and 41 female athletes. Overseeing the competition were 88 officials and 30 referees.