The competition, due to take place from April 20 until 27, will be the biggest edition so far with the new entrants part of a field of 48 pairs.

Kosovo, Mexico, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and Ukraine will all be making their debuts, with Nigeria the first African nation to compete at this level.

The Nigeria Curling Federation organised the country's first national curling event in December in a bid to raise the popularity of the sport. 

Action at the Championship will take place at the Sørmarka Arena in Stavanger. 

Chinese Taipei will compete in mixed doubles for the first time, while Greece will make its World Championship curling debut having only ever competed in European events before.

The 61 WCF Member Associations voted to introduce a new 20-team World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship and World Mixed Doubles Qualification Event from the 2019 season onwards in September

It will bring to an end the open entry system currently in use and significantly reduce the field.

Mixed doubles also made its Olympic debut at Pyeongchang 2018.

"This is a historic moment for our sport," said WCF President Kate Caithness.

"I am delighted to see emerging member associations taking a bold step and entering a world event.

"Having 48 teams compete in what will be our last open entry World Mixed Doubles Championship is a fitting end to this chapter in mixed doubles history. 

"The desire for teams to compete for a place in the new 20-team World Mixed Doubles Championship is proof of the Olympic legacy."

Switzerland won's last year's event, beating Russia in the final in Östersund.