A universal theoretical approach is proposed which enables all hard sphere density functional approximations(DFAs) applicable to van der Waals fluids. The resultant DFA obtained by combining the universal theoretical approach with any hard sphere DFAs only needs as input a second-order direct correlation function (DCF) of a coexistence bulk fluid, and is applicable in both supercritical and subcritical temperature regions. The associated effective hard sphere density can be specified by a hard wall sum rule. It is indicated that the value of the effective hard sphere density so determined can be universal, i.e. can be applied to any extal potentials different from the single hard wall. As an illustrating example, the universal theoretical approach is combined with a hard sphere bridge DFA to predict the density profile of a hard core attractive Yukawa model fluid influenced by diverse extal fields; agreement between the present formalism’s predictions and the corresponding simulation data is good or at least comparable to several previous DFT approaches. The primary advantage of the present theoretical approach combined with other hard sphere DFAs is discussed.