Meet the 17 nations already qualified for FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023

MIES (Switzerland) - The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 is a few months away. With only one window of World Cup Qualifiers remaining, there are still 15 spots up for grabs for next summer’s showpiece.
Meet the 17 countries who have already locked up their tickets for the World Cup 2023.

Japan

Co-hosts Japan will be welcoming fans to the World Cup for a second time following 2006. The Japanese are making their sixth appearance in the global event and participating in back-to-back events for the first time since 1963 and 1967. Their top showing came in 1967 with 11th place. The number 38 ranked team in the world qualified for the 2023 World Cup as co-host nation.

Philippines

Co-hosts Philippines will be on the world stage for the sixth time - and second time as host nation after 1978, which was the last time they finished in the top eight. The world number 40 team will be playing in the World Cup for a third straight time and qualified for the 2023 World Cup as co-hosts. Philippines’ best performance came in 1954 when they grabbed third place.

Australia

Australia have qualified for the World Cup for a fifth straight time and will be making a 13th appearance in the last 14 events, missing out only in 2002. The third-ranked team in the world finally reached the Semi-Finals at the 2019 World Cup for their best-ever finish. The Boomers booked their World Cup ticket in the November 2022 window by knocking off Kazakhstan to remain undefeated in Asian Qualifiers to that point.

Canada

Canada locked up back-to-back World Cup showings for the first time since playing in nine straight events from 1970 to 2002. It will be the 15th appearance on the global stage for the world number 15 team. Canada, who best showing was sixth place, celebrated clinching their World Cup spot at home in November by defeating Venezuela.

China

China are back in the World Cup for the 10th time including the fifth in last six editions. The hosts from 2019 are ranked 27th in the world and finished eighth at the 1994 World Cup. China won both games in the November 2022 window to secure a spot in the World Cup.

Cote d'Ivoire

Cote d'Ivoire return to the World Cup for the fifth time and secured back-to-back berths for the second time following 1986 and 1990. The Africans, who are ranked 43rd in the world, have now made three of the last four editions. Their top result was 13th place in 1986 and 1990. They were the first African team to advance from the Qualifiers in August 2022. 


Finland

Finland were the first team to qualify from the European Qualifiers in the August 2022 window - making their return to the World Cup after missing out in 2019. The Finns, ranked number 24th in the world, reached the World Cup for the first time in 2014, when they finished 22nd.

France

France will be heading to the World Cup for the fifth straight time and have finished third in the last two events - their best result thus far. The world’s fifth-ranked team would love to reach the podium again in their ninth overall appearance. France were one of many teams who secured their spot in the 2023 World Cup in the November 2022 window.

Germany

Germany will be competing in the World Cup for the fifth time in the last six editions - missing out in 2014. The Germans, ranked number 11 in the world, grabbed third place in 2002 but finished a worst-ever 18th in 2019. The third placed finishers from the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 secured their World Cup ticket in the November 2022 window.

Greece

Greece are back for their fifth straight World Cup but Hellas have failed to reach the Quarter-Finals in the last three tournaments since finishing runners-up in 2006 in Japan. It will be the ninth overall appearance for Greece, ranked ninth in the world who also have two fourth placed showings in 1994 and 1998. Greece secured their spot in Asia next summer during the November 2022 window.

Italy

Italy secured back-to-back berth in the World Cup for the first time since 1986 and 1990. It will be the Italians’ 10th appearance on the global stage, where they took fourth place in 1970 and 1978. Italy qualified for the World Cup in the November 2022 window.

Latvia

Latvia so far are the only nation who will be making their World Cup debut in 2023. The northern Europeans locked up their first ticket to the global spectacle during the November 2022. The history was made just months after Latvia, ranked 29th in the world, watched the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 from home - the first time they missed the continent event since 1999.

Lebanon

Lebanon will be celebrating their first appearance in the World Cup since 2010 - and fourth overall. The 2010 World Cup was the last of three straight for the Cedars, who are ranked 42nd in the world and finished 16th in 2002. Lebanon locked up their World Cup ticket in the November 2022 window.

Lithuania

Lithuania have become regulars at the World Cup, securing a fifth straight berth and sixth in the last seven editions. The northern Europeans finished third in 2010 and were fourth in 2014. Lithuania, who are ranked 8th in the world, solidified their sixth overall World Cup ticket in the November 2022 window.

New Zealand

New Zealand have reached the World Cup for the sixth straight time and seventh overall. The Tall Blacks, who are ranked 26th in the world, famously finished fourth in 2002 but have failed to reach the Quarter-Finals since then. New Zealand qualified for the 2023 World Cup in the November 2022 window despite losing twice.

Slovenia

Slovenia will be playing at the World Cup for a fourth time. The FIBA EuroBasket 2017 champions made up for the disappointment of missing the 2019 World Cup by locking up their ticket to next summer during the November 2022 window. Slovenia, the seventh ranked team in the world, reached the World Cup Quarter-Finals in 2010 and 2014.

Spain


The reigning champions Spain will be back to defend their crown as they qualified for the World Cup for the 13th time and 11th in a row. Spain, who recently overtook the United States as the number one team in the world, have reached the Quarter-Finals in the last six editions but have secured “only” two medals - the title in 2006 and 2019. The western Europeans secured their spot in Asia next summer in the November 2022 window.

 FIBA