Draw

The Official Draw of the Qualifiers for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 took place at the FIBA House of Basketball on August 31, 2021. There were four different draws, one for each region - Africa, Americas, Asia (which includes Oceania) and Europe.

Meet the 32 countries vying for Europe's 12 spots to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023: 

 Belarus

Belarus is yet to play at a FIBA Basketball World Cup. They did take part in the first round of the European Qualifiers for the last World Cup and had a memorable victory over Slovenia.

 Belgium

Belgium is looking to bounce back from a tough European Qualifiers campaign from the last World Cup and earn a ticket to the 2023 event for the first time. Belgium recently qualified for the FIBA EuroBasket for the fifth consecutive time. 

 Bosnia & Herzegovina

Bosnia & Herzegovina are hoping to make their first appearance at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2023. They played in the previous European Qualifiers and advanced to the Second Round and have recently clinched a place in next year's FIBA EuroBasket 2022.  

 Bulgaria

Bulgaria's lone appearance at the FIBA Basketball World Cup was in 1959, when they finished seventh out of 13 teams. In the last European Qualifiers for the World Cup in China, Bulgaria made it through to the Second Round.

 Croatia

Croatia has played on three separate occasions on the World Cup stage, finishing as high as third in 1994. Croatia reached the Second Round of the European Qualifiers for the 2019 World Cup in China.

 Czech Republic

The Czech Republic made a very impressive run to the Quarter-Finals of the FIBA Basketball World Cup in China two years ago. The Czechs won the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Canada this year and competed at the recent Tokyo Olympic Games.

 Estonia

Estonia is yet to play at the FIBA Basketball World Cup but did have some fine moments when they advanced to the Second Round of the last European Qualifiers for the 2019 World Cup.

 Finland

Finland will be chasing their second World Cup appearance after playing at the tournament in Spain seven years ago. They took part in the European Qualifiers for the last World Cup and made it through to the Second Round before finishing fourth - just one spot short of the Qualifying places. 

 France

France has reached the podium at the last two FIBA Basketball World Cups, finishing third in Spain in 2014 and two years ago in China. At the previous European Qualifiers, France won 10 out of their 12 games. 

 Germany

Germany's best performance at the FIBA Basketball World Cup was in 2002 when they finished third. They have played at four of the last five FIBA Basketball World Cups, including two years ago in China, where they finished 18th out of the 32 teams.

 Georgia

Georgia is trying to reach the FIBA Basketball World Cup for the first time. They played in the European Qualifiers for the last World Cup and advanced to the Second Round. Georgia will be playing at the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 as one of the host nations.

 Great Britain

Great Britain played in the first round of the European Qualifiers for the World Cup in China. They have qualified for the FIBA EuroBasket four times but have never taken part in the World Cup. 

 Greece

After making it through to the Second Round in China, Greece will be going after their ninth appearance at the FIBA Basketball World Cup, having most recently placed 11th two years ago.

 Hungary

Hungary is yet to play at the FIBA Basketball World Cup but did make it through to the Second Round of the previous European Qualifiers for the 2019 World Cup.  

 Iceland

Iceland made their first two appearances at the FIBA EuroBasket in 2015 and 2017 and now they're setting their sights on a first World Cup participation. They played in the first round of the previous European Qualifiers. 

 Israel

Israel is seeking their third appearance at the FIBA Basketball World Cup, having last qualified in 1986. They played in the previous European Qualifiers and advanced to the Second Round.

 Italy

Italy is chasing their 10th appearance on the World Cup stage, having finished 10th in China. The Italians won the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament this summer and played at the Tokyo Games, and will also be among the hosts at next year's FIBA EuroBasket.

 Lithuania

Lithuania is looking to play at the FIBA Basketball World Cup for the sixth time. Their best performance in the tournament was a third-place finish in 2010. Lithuania was ninth at the World Cup in China two years ago.

 Latvia

Latvia is attempting to clinch a place at the FIBA Basketball World Cup for the first time. They narrowly missed out on playing in the 32-team event in China after finishing fourth in their Second Round group of the European Qualifiers. 

 Montenegro

The smallest nation by population to ever appear at the FIBA Basketball World Cup when they competed in China two years ago, Montenegro goes into the European Qualifiers looking to make back-to-back appearances. They placed 25th in 2019. 

 Netherlands

The Netherlands has only appeared at the FIBA Basketball World Cup once in 1986. The Dutch advanced to the Second Round of the European Qualifiers for the 2019 World Cup.

 North Macedonia

North Macedonia are chasing their first appearance at the FIBA Basketball World Cup. They played in the European Pre-Qualifiers for the last World Cup.

 Poland

Poland had an outstanding FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 in China, reaching the Quarter-Finals and finishing eighth. It was their first appearance at the FIBA Basketball World Cup since 1967, when they came in fifth in the tournament staged in Uruguay.

 Portugal

Portugal is chasing their first-ever appearance at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2023. They took part in the European Pre-Qualifiers for the last World Cup.

 Russia

Russia made it safely through the European Qualifiers for the FIBA Basketball World Cup held in China in 2019, where they made it to the Second Round and ultimately finished 12th. Russia finished second at two consecutive World Cups in '94 and '98, their best placing to date.

 Serbia

Serbia won seven of their 12 games in the last European Qualifiers for the 2019 World Cup. Their best performance at the FIBA Basketball World Cup was runners-up in 2014. Serbia has placed in the top 10 at the past four World Cups, including a fifth-place finish in China two years ago.

 Slovakia

Slovakia is chasing their first appearance at the FIBA Basketball World Cup. They recently took part in the Pre-Qualifiers for the FIBA EuroBasket 2022. 

 Slovenia

The FIBA EuroBasket champions in 2017, Slovenia, made it to the Second Round of the European Qualifiers for the World Cup in China but missed out on reaching the tournament. After a strong summer of winning the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Kaunas and then finishing fourth in Tokyo, hopes are high that Slovenia will make their 4th World Cup appearance in 2023. 

 Spain

Spain goes into the European Qualifiers as the reigning champions after prevailing at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in China two years ago. They were also winners of the World Cup that was held in Japan in 2006. Spain has played at the last 10 World Cups, dating back to 1982.

 Sweden

Sweden is looking to compete at the FIBA Basketball World Cup for the first time in their history. They played in the first round of European Qualifiers for the 2019 World Cup in China and had a thrilling one-point home triumph over Turkey.

 Turkey

Turkey has played at five consecutive World Cups, dating back to 2002 in Indianapolis. When they hosted the event in 2010, Turkey made it all the way to the Final in Istanbul, finishing second. Turkey won eight of their 12 European Qualifiers games before the World Cup in 2019. 

 Ukraine

Ukraine is seeking a second appearance at the FIBA Basketball World Cup after playing at the event that was held in Spain in 2014. Ukraine advanced to the Second Round of the previous European Qualifiers.