FEI Jumping Nations Cup Final 2022: Preview, schedule and stars to watch in Paris 2024 qualifier

Fourteen of the top national teams in jumping will assemble at Barcelona's Real Club de Polo for the FEI Jumping Nations Cup Final 2022 from 29 September to 2 October.

The Netherlands defend their title after a stunning clear round from Harrie Smolders and Monaco secured gold at the same venue 12 months ago.

The Dutch have already qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games by virtue of their second place at August's World Championships behind Sweden, with bronze medallists Great Britain, Ireland and Germany also booking their spots at the next Olympic Games.

In Barcelona, there is one quota spot up for grabs for the highest-finishing country which has not already reached Paris.

The United States did not make the Nations Cup Final meaning they will have to wait until next year's Pan American Games to try again to secure qualification.

With France guaranteed a place in Paris as hosts, the countries battling for that sole berth are Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Norway, Spain and Switzerland.

Such was the intensity of competition in Europe that Norway and Sweden initially failed to qualify for this event, but were invited to compete after teams from the Middle East pulled out.

Jumping Nations Cup Final 2022 Format

For the ninth consecutive time, Barcelona is hosting the FEI Nations Cup Final.

After Wednesday's horse inspection, the first round takes place on Thursday (29 September). As well as the 14 teams, there are individual competitors from three other countries - Colombia, Croatia and Portugal - taking part.

Each team of four drops their worst score with the top eight nations going through to Sunday's grand final.

The remaining six countries will contest the Challenge Cup on Saturday night.

As there are additional events as part of the CSIO Barcelona long weekend, most riders will bring two horses and decide which one to partner for the Nations Cup Final on the day of the horse inspection.

READ MORE: Paris 2024 equestrian jumping qualification process explained

FEI Jumping Nations Cup Final 2022 Stars To Watch

Switzerland gunning for maiden win and Olympic berth

The Swiss have long been highfliers in the world of jumping with Steve Guerdat winning individual Olympic gold at London 2012 and Martin Fuchs the reigning FEI Jumping World Cup champion.

They won European team gold last year in Riesenbeck, Germany but have yet to claim the prestigious Nations Cup Final.

There is added incentive for them to do so in Barcelona after their eighth place at August's Herning World Championships meant they failed to clinch a Paris 2024 spot at the first attempt.

That came after they won the Europe Division 1 season opener on home soil in St Gallen although they only finished fourth in the overall standings.

Guerdat and Fuchs lead the Swiss and they will be joined by two from Niklaus Rutschi, Edouard Schmitz and Pius Schwizer.

Guery leads Belgium bid for Paris place

Belgium finished one place above Switzerland in Herning, largely due to the exploits of Jerome Guery who went on to take individual silver.

Guery and Quel Homme de Hus were the only partnership - other than gold medallists Henrik von Eckermann and King Edward - not to have a fence down during the competition.

Gregory Wathelet is the only other survivor from the World Championships with the pair part of Belgium's victorious team at the 2019 European Championships in Rotterdam.

Olivier Philippaerts, Gilles Thomas and Koen Vereecke are the other members of the squad in Barcelona.

Strong squad for Dutch defence

While some of the top nations including Sweden, Ireland and Britain are without their star names, the Dutch welcome back three members of their silver medal winning-team from Herning.

Smolders, world and Olympic individual bronze medallist Maikel van der Vleuten and Jur Vrieling are in the squad alongside Marc Houtzager and Johnny Pals.

Only Smolders and van der Vleuten remain from last year's Nations Cup Final triumph.

And it was a stunning clear round from Smolders on board Monaco which saw the Netherlands pip Ireland to gold with just one time fault separating the teams.

Germany also have a couple of big names in European individual champion Andre Thieme, and Jana Wargers who was also part of the team that clinched fifth place, and an Olympic berth, at the Herning World Championships.

FEI Jumping Nations Cup 2022 Schedule for Paris 2024 qualification

(all times in Central European Summer Time/CEST, which is UTC+2):

Thursday 29 September

14:00 First round

Saturday 1 October

21:00 Challenge Cup

Sunday 2 October

15:00 Final competition

How to watch FEI Jumping Nations Cup Final 2022

The full event is being broadcast by the FEI's TV and digital livestream partners, with replays and highlights also available.

Full details of where to watch can be found here.