Only 18 teams participated of 24 possible qualifiers, with the USA (CR), Jamaica (WR), Canada, Great Britain, Trinidad and Tobago, and China (WL) not entering.

On the 19 teams qualified by entry standard (38.80), Thailand and Chinese Taipei also declined to participate, same as Australia, first of the following top list.

The 10 best placed teams will qualify for the 2022 World Championships in Eugene.

5 nations which made the men’s 4x100m final at the 2019 IAAF World Athletics Championships in Doha are entered – Brazil, France, Japan, the Netherlands and South Africa – their qualification for Tokyo is also already secured.

Prior to the competition, the records were as follows: According to World Athletics,[2] there were 2 teams who were possible favorite winners: There are 6 possible runners-up for the final: 6 more teams to complete the 10 World Championships qualifiers: Heats Qualification: First 2 of each heat (Q) plus the 2 fastest times (q) advanced to the final.