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

MIES (Switzerland) - After four long years of waiting, the prestigious FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 is just less than a week away.

Here's what you need to know to be able to follow all of the action. 

When and where will the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 take place?

The global showpiece will tip off on August 25 in the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia, marking the very first time that it will be hosted by multiple nations.

Groups A and B will play their games at the SMART Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. The Mall of Asia (MoA) Arena in Pasay, meanwhile, will host Groups C and D fixtures.

The two games of the First Round of Group A will be played in the Philippine Arena which has a capacity of 52,000 fans.

Groups E and F will hold their games at the Okinawa Arena, while Groups G and H will play at the recently inaugurated Indonesia Arena inside the Gelora Bung Karno Sports Complex.

The Final Phase, set on September 5-10, will be at the MoA Arena.

What is the format?

A total of 32 teams will see action, divided into eight groups of four. The tournament will start with the Group Phase's First Round on  August 25-30. The top two teams of each group will qualify for the Second Round, while the bottom two teams will play in the Classification Round for 17-32 places.

The Second Round will see the top two seeds from the First Round groups converge and face one another. It will feature four groups of four teams, with the top two teams sealing their place in the Quarter-Finals. The bottom two teams will compete in the Classification Round 9-17.

The Quarter-Finals will be on September 5, serving as the opening salvo of the knockout Final Phase. The Semi-Finals will be on September 8, with the two winners to vie for the biggest prize of them all in the Final on September 10.

Classification Round 5-8 games will also be held in between the stretch.

The competition system can be found here.

Who won it the last time around?

Led by MVP Ricky Rubio and an established core, Spain won the 2019 edition in China by beating Luis Scola and Argentina, 96-75, in the Final.

It was Spain's second title overall, and marked another Spanish reign after previous defending champions United States bowed out of the Quarter-Finals.

Where to watch the World Cup?

To find out which TV network or channel is broadcasting games in your country of residence, all you have to do is consult the games schedule page. This information will be displayed for each game.

If you are looking to stream the action, Courtside 1891 is your one-stop shop for the best online live video and highlights from FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.

Who has won the most World Cups?

USA and Yugoslavia each have five to lead all national teams that have ever played in the competition.

Can USA become the national team with the most titles won ever at the World Cup?

Will France become the fifth team to reach the podium three times in a row?

Only Brazil, Yugoslavia, Soviet Union, and USA have done so in the history of the World Cup. France got the bronze in 2014 and 2019.

What is the record of viewers for a single World Cup game?

A whopping 70 million viewers (combined TV, streaming, and attendance) watched the China v Poland thriller at the 2019 World Cup in Beijing, making it the most-watched sports event of 2019.

Which teams have played in all World Cups?

Here's the list of teams that have participated in all 19 editions of the World Cup since 1950.

USA and Brazil.

That's it. That's the list.

Who are the World Cup Global Ambassadors?

USA's superstar Carmelo Anthony, Argentina's legend Luis Scola and Spain's icon Pau Gasol complete the amazing team of World Cup Global Ambassadors.

What is the most points scored by a team in a World Cup game?

In 1978, Brazil beat China 154-97. No team has scored more points in a World Cup game.

Who will play at the World Cup for the first time?

Georgia, Latvia, Cape Verde, and South Sudan. That means excitement, pride, and unbridled emotion will be on full display.

Can you lose a game and still win it all?

If you look at the history of the World Cup, in 18 editions, only nine teams have won it and stayed undefeated. Argentina in 1950, USA in 1954, 1994, 2010 and 2014, Brazil in 1963, Yugoslavia in 1978 and Spain in 2006 and 2019. All the other World Champions have lost one game in the competition, even two games for Yugoslavia in 2002.

The last four World Champions since 2006 (USA and Spain) did not lose a single game.

Will we see the first World Cup triple-double?

In 2019, two players came very close to posting the first triple-double ever in a World Cup game. Joe Ingles for Australia against Senegal (17 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists) and Dennis Schroder for Germany against Canada (21 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists).

Where else can I follow the event?

Keep up to date through the World Cup's official website and through FIBA's official social media pages on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Weibo, and Douyin.

The World Cup is also at your fingertips. The World Cup App offers real-time coverage with the official play-by-play and live statistics, video highlights, game reports, and live post-game press conferences.

What other information is there on the teams and players?

All 32 teams have their own dedicated page in the official website. During the event you can check out the players, the rosters, statistics, and, of course, news.

How well do you know the FIBA Basketball World Cup history?

Click here to watch the updated documentary on the history of the event with exclusive content from World Cup 2023 Global Ambassador Carmelo Anthony.

Qualification for the Olympics

All 32 teams are bent on winning the coveted Naismith Trophy. They are looking, too, at securing a berth at the 2024 Paris Olympics, with seven tickets at stake in the upcoming World Cup.

Those allocated slots will be distributed to the best teams per continent, divided as follows: Two for the Americas, two for Europe, and one each for Africa, Asia, and Oceania.

FIBA