GUANGZHOU (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019) - It's all about keeping the momentum going for Venezuelan basketball these days. With that in mind, the highest of priorities is to reach the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 in China.

Winners of the FIBA AmeriCup 2015 in Mexico City and Olympic participants last year in Rio de Janeiro, Venezuela discovered on Sunday they will go up against Chile, Colombia and a team still to be confirmed in their qualifying campaign for the 32-team event in the Far East.

Their first qualifier will be at home to Colombia on 24 November.

"Now that we know our opponents, we're able to make concrete plans for the qualifiers," said the president of the Venezuelan Basketball Federation, Carmelo Cortez.

"Our main objective is to qualify for the World Cup and we have a good group. We have to coordinate all the logistical and sporting aspects with the technical staff so that in each window, we have the proper preparation. That will be the key to getting the results we want."

Venezuela played at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro

There are four groups of four teams in the First Round of Qualifying with the top three in each progressing to the Second Round. Seven teams will reach the World Cup from the Americas.

Venezuela's last appearance in the tournament was 11 years ago when it was staged in Japan. The country struggled to make an impact in the years that followed but has jumped back into the spotlight under coach Nestor 'Che' Garcia.

The veteran tactician steered the team to a stunning FIBA AmeriCup 2015 triumph. The South Americans shocked Canada in the Semi-Finals and then overcame Argentina in the title game.

Venezuela managed to beat China at the 2016 Olympics but lost to Australia, France, Serbia and the USA.

FIBA