2023 FIBA World Cup

FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023: Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.

From NBA.com Staff

Below is a list of frequently asked questions about FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023. For more information, visit FIBA Basketball 2023.

> What is FIBA Basketball World Cup?

Known as the FIBA World Championship from 1950 to 2010, the FIBA Basketball World Cup is the flagship event of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA). The FIBA Basketball World Cup has been the center stage for some of international basketball’s biggest stars: from Oscar Schmidt and Nikos Galis, to Pau Gasol and Kevin Durant, to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic and many in between.

The inaugural FIBA Basketball World Cup took place in Argentina in 1950, with the host nation prevailing in the Final against the USA. Since the first staging of the tournament in Buenos Aires, which featured only 10 teams, the field has grown exponentially and featured a record 32 national teams in 2019.

This marks the 19th edition of the FIBA Basketball World Cup and will take place for the first time across three host nations: the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia.

> When is FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023?

The 2023 FIBA World Cup tips off Aug. 25 and culminate with the championship on Sept. 10.

> What is the schedule for FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023? 

  • First Round (Group Phase): Aug. 25-30
  • Second Round (Group Phase): Aug. 31-Sept. 4
  • Quarterfinals: Sept. 5-6
  • Semifinals: Sept. 8
  • Final: Sept. 10
  • Third-Place Game: Sept. 10

See the full schedule here.

> Where will the games be played?

The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 will take place in the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia. The 32 participating teams will play in 92 games over 16 days.

> What are the qualification criteria for teams to participate in the FIBA World Cup?

The Qualifiers format for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 feature six windows over a 15-month period across the four regions of Africa, Americas, Asia (including Oceania) and Europe. The Qualifiers took place from November 2021 to February 2023 with 80 national teams competing for a World Cup spot.

> Which countries are participating?

All of the qualification spots for the World Cup have been confirmed by 32 teams, listed in alphabetical order:

Angola, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Cape Verde, China, Cote d’Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iran, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Mexico, Montenegro, New Zealand, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Serbia, Slovenia, South Sudan, Spain, United States and Venezuela

Learn more about the 32 qualified teams here.

> Are any NBA players participating in the FIBA World Cup tournament? 

Several NBA players will represent their native countries in the tournament. See the full breakdown of every roster so far before games begin.

> Who won the last FIBA World Cup title? 

Spain defeated Argentina, 95-75, to win the 2019 FIBA World Cup title.

> Has Team USA ever won a FIBA World Cup title?

Team USA has been crowned world champions five times: 1954, ’86, ’94, 2010 and ’14.

> What are the different stages of the FIBA World Cup tournament?

The tournament will be played in three phases: Group Phase: First Round, Group Phase: Second Round and Final Phase.

> What is the format for the First Round?

The 32 qualified teams have been sorted into eight groups of four. Every team plays against the three other teams in its group for a total of 48 games (3 games per team, 6 games per group).

The top two teams from each group will qualify for the next group phase in the second round. The bottom two teams from each group will play the Classification Round for places 17-32.

> How were the groups determined for the First Round? 

The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Draw was carried out according to the draw principles in April.

> What are the groups for the First Round? 

The results of the drawing and the groups for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 are as follows:

Group A: Angola Dominican Republic, Philippines, Italy

Group B:  South Sudan, Serbia, China, Puerto Rico

** Games for groups A and B will be played at Araneta Coliseum in the Philippines. 

Group C: Team USA, Jordan, Greece, New Zealand

Group D: Egypt, Mexico, Montenegro, Lithuania

** Games for groups C and D will be played at Mall of Asia Arena in the Philippines. 

Group E: Germany, Finland, Australia, Japan

Group F: Slovenia, Cape Verde, Georgia, Venezuela

** Games for groups E and F will be played at Okinawa Arena in Japan. 

Group G: Iran, Spain, Cote d’Ivoire, Brazil

Group H: Canada, Latvia, Lebanon, France

** Games for groups G and H will be played at Jakarta Arena in Indonesia.

> What is the format for the Second Round?

The 16 remaining teams will be sorted into four groups of four. The results of the three games from the First Round carry over to the Second Round.

Every team plays against the two teams in their group that they did not face in the First Round, for a total of 16 games. (Two games per team, four games per group).

The top two teams from each group will qualify for Final Phase. The bottom two teams from each group are eliminated and ranked in places No. 9-16 according to the Official Basketball Rules.

> What is the format for the Final Phase?

The final phase includes the quarterfinals, classification matches for fifth to eighth places, semifinals and medal matches.

The Final Phase will tip off Sept. 5 and culminate with the championship on Sept. 10.

> What is the Classification Round? 

Classification games are needed to establish the final ranking of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, which determines which teams will qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. A total of seven teams together with the host, France (subject to FIBA Central Board decision) will directly qualify.

The final ranking will also be used to qualify other teams for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments. Click here to view the full explanation of FIBA’s qualification system.

> What does the champion of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 receive?

The champion will receive a new trophy, made almost entirely out of gold and features a roll of honor listing all of the world champions. It also features a golden hoop in which ‘Federation Internationale de Basketball Amateur’ — FIBA’s original name — is written, a mark that identifies it as an official trophy. These characteristics give it a heightened sense of tradition and prestige.

The FIBA Basketball World Cup trophy stands 60 centimeters high — 13 more than the previous one — and ranks among the tallest sports trophies.

> How can I watch the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023?

The Courtisde 1891’s FIBA World Cup Pass enables access to all games from the 2023 FIBA World Cup, live and on-demand. All 92 games are available via Courtside FIBA World Cup Pass. For fans watching in the U.S., games are also available on ESPN platforms, including ESPN2 and ESPN+. Six games will air exclusively on ESPN2, including three in the First Round featuring Team USA. All other 86 games will be carried by ESPN+.

> How can I access FIBA World Cup Pass?
Courtside 1891’s FIBA World Cup Pass can be purchased on NBA.com.

> What devices are compatible with FIBA World Cup Pass?
Visit watch page support for full list of supported devices.

> Where can I purchase tickets for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023? 

Tickets for Group Play (First and Second Rounds), quarterfinals, semifinals and final can be purchased here.

Related

Latest