The three hosts of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 have selected preferred teams to play the Group Phase in their respective countries.
Following a consultation with the host nations, the FIBA Central Board has confirmed that the United States (USAA) will play in the Philippines; Slovenia will travel to Japan, and Canada will land in Indonesia.
Both Slovenia and Canada have qualified for the World Cup, while USA are in a good position to clinch a berth in the last Window of the Qualifiers.
Each host could select a preferred team based on commercial reasons, as their choice will have no impact on the integrity of the event or the draw process.
The Philippines, as host for the Group Phase and Final phase, will be placed in Pot 1 for the draw — as was the case at the World Cup 2019 with China,
They will be joined in Pot 1 by the best ranked teams in the FIBA World Ranking Men after the last WCQ window in February 2023. So, USA and Philippines will be in two different groups of the four that will take place in the Philippines.
Japan has chosen the No. 7 team, Slovenia. Japan and Slovenia will play their Group Phase in Okinawa, where two groups will be played.
Canada will play in Jakarta, Indonesia, with two of the eight top teams of the FIBA World Ranking Men joining them in the two groups in Indonesia.
The complete FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Draw Principles will be defined after the sixth window of the Qualifiers in February is complete and once all 32 qualified teams are known.
These principles will be based on the FIBA World Ranking Men and on geographical principles.
The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Draw will be held in Manila on April 29 — four months before basketball’s biggest event opens.
This is the second time that 32 teams will play at the World Cup. There are two venues hosting four groups in Manila, and two groups in both Okinawa and Jakarta. The flagship men’s event will tip off on August 25, 2023.
Follow My Team passes and other packages for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 are available here. Day passes as well as single-game tickets will become available after the Draw on April 29, 2023.
