The FEI has made changes to Nations Cup rules in a bid to allow the series final to go ahead in Barcelona in October.

Twenty-two nations will be invited to compete at the Longines final including 10 from Europe, three from North America, two from South America, two from the Middle East, two from Asia/Australia, one apiece from Africa and Eurasia, plus the host nation Spain.

The rule change will mean all 10 teams in Europe Division 1, including champions Ireland, are guaranteed a place in the final if the competition goes ahead. Normally only the top seven teams from Europe Division 1 qualify for the annual final, with additional qualifiers for non-European teams held throughout the world.

The Nations Cup held in February this year in Wellington, Florida will no longer be considered as a qualifier, and while events in North America and Europe that are still scheduled to take place over the next few months can be hosted as a Nations Cup, no qualifying points will be awarded for the final.

The three teams from North America and the 10 teams from Europe Division 1 will qualify directly for the final, while the UAE and Syria, who claimed the two top spots at the Middle East qualifier in Abu Dhabi earlier this year, will retain their places for the final.

The qualification system for the other divisions will be based on the Longines Rankings, using the combined points of each national federations’ four best athletes on the Longines Ranking published one month prior to the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup Final.