FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023: Everything you need to know

The 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, the most significant global basketball event, is scheduled to take place from August 25 to September 10, spanning three different Asian countries.

Here's a comprehensive overview of the event: Participating Countries: In a notable development, 32 nations are participating in the World Cup for the second time in its history. These countries are distributed across regions as follows: five from Africa, seven from the Americas, eight from Asia/Oceania, and 12 from Europe. Venues: The 32 teams are divided into eight groups. Among these groups, four will engage in the group stage and second round matches in Metro Manila, Philippines. Additionally, two groups each will compete in Jakarta, Indonesia, and Okinawa, Japan. The quarterfinals, semifinals, and championship game will be hosted in Manila. Contending Teams: While this edition of the World Cup has witnessed the withdrawal of several NBA stars including Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Ricky Rubio, and more, several teams still boast NBA veterans. Canada, apart from the United States, features a strong lineup of NBA players, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, RJ Barrett, Luguentz Dort, and Dillon Brooks. Australia also possesses significant star power with players such as Patty Mills, Josh Giddey, Mattise Thybulle, and Joe Ingles. Germany's roster includes players like Dennis Schroeder, Franz and Moritz Wagner, Daniel Theis, and more. France is led by Rudy Gobert, Nicolas Batum, and Evan Fournier. The event showcases NBA talent across the board, featuring players like Yuta Watanabe, Bruno Fernando, Simone Fontecchio, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Jordan Clarkson, Kyle Anderson, and Jonas Valanciunas. Notably, Luka Doncic and Karl-Anthony Towns remain as the prominent names in the tournament, representing Slovenia and the Dominican Republic respectively. Fans will also recognize two Asian legends, Hamed Haddadi (Iran) and Zaid Abbas (Jordan), who are likely participating in their final World Cup. Moreover, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, a recent PBA champion, joins Jordan as a naturalized player. Tournament Format: The competition consists of group-stage matches where teams in each group face each other once. The top two teams from each group advance to the second round, where they compete against the top two teams from another group. The lower two teams from each group move to the classification round and face the bottom two teams from another group. Win-loss records from the group stage carry over to either the second round or the classification round.

The top eight teams from the second round progress to the knockout quarterfinals. Winners of these matches proceed to the semifinals and ultimately the championship game. The remaining eight teams play knockout games to determine the 9th to 16th positions. The classification round involves a series of knockout games to determine rankings from 17th to 32nd place. In case of ties, point differentials are used to break them.

Stakes and Favorites: The World Cup brings forth several compelling storylines. Spain seeks consecutive titles, while the US aims for redemption after a disappointing seventh-place finish in 2019. Serbia and Australia also have their sights set on overcoming past setbacks. France looks to build on their third-place finish in 2019 and second-place finish in the Tokyo Olympics.

Co-hosts Philippines and Japan aim to perform well in front of their home crowd, with hopes of advancing to the second round. Philippines also aspires to set a new World Cup attendance record on opening day.

In addition to the prestigious title, all countries are vying for spots in the upcoming Paris Olympics. The top Asian, African, and Oceania finishers, along with the top two finishers from the Americas and Europe (excluding host France), will automatically qualify.

With the absence of some key players, this year's tournament is anticipated to be highly competitive. Canada appears strong on paper, the US remains formidable, and teams like Spain, France, Serbia, Australia, and even Germany are likely to be strong contenders. Luka Doncic's prowess may lift Slovenia, while balance across teams suggests a closely fought competition.