Top seeds confirmed ahead of FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers Draw

BEIRUT (Lebanon) - The top seeds for the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers Draw have been confirmed.

Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Iran, Lebanon, and Jordan are coming in as the top-ranked sides based on their geographical locations and the FIBA World Ranking Men, presented by NIKE.

The 24 participating teams in the qualifying tournament beginning February next year will be grouped in 8 pots of 3 teams, where the top seeds will be planted in Pot 1 and Pot 5.

Teams from EABA, SEABA, and the Oceania regions will be in Pots 1-4. Squads from the GBA, WABA, CABA, and SABA, meanwhile, will be in Pots 5-8.

Coming in as the reigning two-time Asia Cup champions, Australia are ranked no. 4 in the world and no. 1 amongst teams in Asia and Oceania based on the rankings updated shortly after the conclusion of the successful FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 in Manila.

Joining Australia in Pot 1 are New Zealand and Japan. New Zealand have risen to no. 2 in Asia-Oceania after climbing to 21st in the world rankings. Japan, meanwhile, are now at third in the region after jumping 11 spots higher to go 26th in the world.

Leading Pot 5, on the other hand, are Iran, the fourth-best team in the region. Also in the pot are Lebanon and Jordan, ranked 28th and 32nd in the world, respectively.

The complete draw procedures, which will also be based on ranking and geographical principles, will be later published leading up to the draw ceremony tonight in Doha, Qatar at 18:00 local time

FIBA