USA to face Germany, Greece in Abu Dhabi warmup for World Cup

BERLIN (Germany) - The USA, Germany and Greece national teams are going to square off in friendly international event in Abu Dhabi just days before the start of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.

At a press conference in the Convention Center Berlin this Wednesday, USA Basketball announced the games as part of an agreement with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi).

The U.S. Men’s National Team will host Greece and Germany on Aug. 18 and 20, respectively. Germany and Greece are set to play on Aug. 19.

The USA Basketball Showcase Abu Dhabi is USA Basketball’s first men's national team activity in the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates and the second most populous city in the country after Dubai.

USA, winners of five World Cups, will be coached by Steve Kerr and will be among the favorites to reach the top of the podium when the 32-team event is staged in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia from August 25 to September 10.

USA won a second straight World Cup in Spain in 2014

After winning the World Cups in 2010 and 2014 in Istanbul and Madrid, respectively, the USA fell in the Quarter-Finals at the 2019 World Cup in China. The country bounced back strong two years later when it captured the Olympic gold medal in Tokyo.

The Abu Dhabi event is the second glitzy World Cup warmup tournament that the USA are taking part in.

They will also be in action from August 11 to August 13 at a three-team event in Malaga, with hosts Spain, and Slovenia also taking part.

In Abu Dhabi, USA's games against Germany and Greece are sure to cause a real buzz. The Americans have had memorable games against both over the years. The Americans beat Germany in the Quarter-Finals of the 2006 World Cup. In 2008, the USA Redeem Team rolled to victories over Germany and Greece at the Beijing Olympics on the way to a gold medal. And at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019, USA won the Second Round game against Giannis Antetokounmpo and Greece.

Germany and Greece have also had some unforgettable games over the years.

Greece won their battle in the FIBA EuroBasket 2005 in Belgrade, when Dirk Nowitzki was Germany's top player and was MVP of the tournament.

Germany took on Greece last summer at the FIBA EuroBasket in Berlin

More recently, the two squared off last summer in a FIBA EuroBasket Quarter-Final, in Berlin.

Germany prevailed in that game, 107-96, despite Giannis Antetokounmpo's 31 points, seven rebounds, eight assists and three steals for Greece.

All three countries have just wrapped up successful qualifying campaigns for the World Cup, with USA among the seven teams clinching spots in the Americas, and Greece and Germany among the 12 sides to claim berths in Europe.

FIBA