DOHA (Qatar) – FIBA Global Ambassador Carmelo Anthony performed the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Qualifiers Draw on May 13 in Doha. The event may still be more than two years away, but the basketball legend already has a strong sense of who the legitimate contenders might be.
Germany, the reigning champion
"You have to take your hat off to Germany. They are the champs right, so you have to go and take it from them."
Germany were brilliant two years ago in Manila. Last summer, at the Olympics in Paris, they carried that momentum into the Group Phase but couldn’t overcome a very aggressive and revenge-driven French team playing at home. In the bronze medal game, Nikola Jokic and Serbia proved too much to handle.
Now, former head coach Gordie Herbert has taken the helm of his home country, Canada. But Germany remain a basketball nation on the rise. The Wagner brothers have yet to reach their prime, and Dennis Schroder, World Cup 2023 MVP, will still be a valuable leader in 2027.
USA, the Olympic champion
I think USA will be intentional on who we bring over to the World Cup in 2027
"Hopefully, we would do right. The USA would be ready. I think coming off losing the last World Cup, having the opportunity to have that experience in the Olympics and now hopefully we can carry that over to 2027. I think we'll be intentional on who we bring over to the World Cup in 2027."
USA won in Paris thanks to the old guard. MVP LeBron, “Golden Dagger” Steph, and comeback KD were Steve Kerr’s best players on the court. KD has expressed interest in playing in LA 2028, but it’s very unlikely we’ll see LeBron or Steph suit up for USA again.
As the No. 1 country in the FIBA World Ranking Men, presented by Nike, the USA now need to carefully consider their next steps. With star power more evenly spread across the globe than ever before, team chemistry, camaraderie, routines, and shared experience are crucial values in FIBA basketball.
So who will step up for the USA in 2027?
Other contenders?
Canada, France and... South Sudan
"You still have Canada out there, you still have South Sudan, France is still out there. I just think the competition is just getting better and better. For me, as a fan, although I'm a little biased to Team USA, it's enjoyable to watch Puerto Rico come out and play and have an opportunity, coming from a small town from a small island like that. So just to see these other countries and islands come out and try to compete at the highest level, I'm excited and I wish everbody the best in that."
FIBA