The fourteen teams were divided into two pools of three teams and two pools of four. The top teams of each pool played-off against the second-placed teams to decide which four nations progress to World Group play-offs. The four nations coming last played-off against each other to decide which teams are relegated to Group II for 2005.
The nine teams were divided into a pool of four teams and a pool of five. The top teams of each pool played-off against the second-placed teams to decide which two nations progress to Group I for 2005. The four nations coming last played-off against the second-to-last placed teams to determine which teams would be relegated to Group III for 2005.
The eight teams were divided into two pools of four teams. The top teams of each pool played-off against the second-placed teams to decide which two nations progress to Group II for 2005. The other teams played against each other to determine overall placings.