The International Skating Union established it in 1999 to provide skaters representing non-European countries with a similar competition to the much older European Figure Skating Championships.

Historically, the 4CC has been dominated by just four countries – the United States, Japan, Canada, and China – which have won a combined 296 out of 312 possible medals.

Each member country may enter up to three skaters or teams in each discipline, provided they obtain the minimum TES in the current or previous season.

National governing bodies select their entries according to their own criteria.

As of 2018 Championships, the following countries are eligible to send skaters to the competition: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, New Zealand, North Korea, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, the United States, and Uzbekistan.