It follows the standard style (indoors on a rectangular court) and is contested by men's and women's national teams.

The format involves a round-robin group stage, including 5 teams in 2 pools, with the first and second place finishers of each group progressing to the semi-finals.

[1][better source needed] The women's tournament was held in 2012 in Patna.

With the return of international kabaddi post the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2022 Asian Games, the IKF announced the resumption of the Men's World Cup in January 2025 and Women's World Cup in 2026, with the men's and women's events taking place every alternate year thereafter.

[2] It was later reported that the men's event may take place later in the year, possibly in Bangladesh,[3] while the women's event may take place in March 2025 in India.