FIBA World Cup 2023

The biggest international basketball competition in history, the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, will take place in three different Asian nations from August 25 to September 10. Let’s take a look on things you want to know about FIBA w

1. Table of Contents

   Toggle

   Which countries are participating?

32 countries are represented in the World Cup for the second time in the event’s history: five from Africa, seven from the Americas, eight from Asia/Oceania, and 12 from Europe.

2. Where the games are being held?

32 teams are divided into eight groups, with four in Metro Manila, Philippines, and two in Jakarta, Indonesia and Okinawa, Japan, with Manila hosting the quarterfinals, semifinals, and championship games.

3. Who is playing?

NBA talents Nikola Jokic (Serbia), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece), Ricky Rubio (Spain), Jamal Murray (Canada), Kristaps Porzingis (Latvia), Rui Hachimura (Japan), and Victor Wembanyama (France) have all pulled out of this World Cup. Several teams still have NBA veterans, though.

NBA players from Canada, like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, RJ Barrett, Luguentz Dort, and Dillon Brooks, are abundant compared to American players. Patty Mills, Josh Giddey, Mattise Thybulle, and Joe Ingles are just a few of the famous people from Australia. There include Isaiah Harkenstein, Maxi Kleber, Franz and Moritz Wagner, Daniel Theis, and Dennis Schroeder from Germany. Rudy Gobert, Nicolas Batum, and Evan Fournier are the leaders of France.

Yuta Watanabe (Japan), Bruno Fernando (Angola), Simone Fontecchio (Italy), Bogdan Bogdanovic (Serbia), Jordan Clarkson (Philippines), Kyle Anderson (China), and Jonas Valanciunas (Lithuania) are just a few of the NBA players on the field. But the two most well-liked candidates are still in the running: Karl-Anthony Towns of the Dominican Republic and Luka Doncic of Slovenia.

Filipino fans will see familiar faces Hamed Haddadi (Iran) and Zaid Abbas (Jordan) lead their teams in their last World Cup, while Jordan enlists Rondae Hollis-Jefferson as its naturalized player.

4. What is the format?

Teams in each group play once, with the top two teams from each group moving to the second round. The bottom two teams are relegated to the classification round and play the bottom two teams from another group. All teams carry their win-loss record from the group stage into either the second round or the classification round. The top eight teams advance to the knockout quarterfinals, where winners advance to the semifinals and championship game. The bottom eight teams play knockout games to determine the 9th to 16th placers, and in the classification round, teams play knockout games to determine the 17th to 32nd placers.

5. What is at risk?

Spain, the US, Serbia, Australia, France, the Philippines, and Japan are all aiming for back-to-back titles, redemption after a disappointing 2019 finish, and a spot in the championship game. The US seeks redemption after a worst-ever seventh place finish, while Serbia aims to erase the stigma of a disappointing finish four years ago. Australia, fresh off a first-ever podium finish at the Olympics, aims to surpass that success. The Philippines aims to set an all-time World Cup attendance record for a single game on opening day. All countries are also looking to book tickets to the Paris Olympics, with the top Asian, African, Oceania, Americas, and European finishers automatically qualifying.

6. Who are the favorites?

This year’s tournament may be the most evenly matched in recent memory due to the absence of several important players. Even without Murray, Canada appears to be wealthy on paper. Despite not sending their “A” team, the US has recently shown in tune-up games that they are ready to go.

Spain, France, Serbia, and Australia will always be discussed, and Germany might surprise people. There’s little reason to doubt Doncic’s ability to repeat the accomplishment he used to inspire Slovenia to a fourth-place finish in the Olympic Games in Tokyo.