ISTANBUL (Türkiye) - The long wait is just about over - tip-off of the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2026 is Saturday June 27 in Istanbul. After months of talking about top players - past and current - and all the teams, it's time for the action to start.
There is just one more matter to clear up for fans of each of the 16 nations: where does my team stack up in the Power Rankings?
You don't need to ask any longer - here is Volume 1 of the Power Rankings.
16. Japan
Japan should have a tough time even staying close in any of their group games against Italy, USA and France.
The Asians will say they aren't in Istanbul to just make up the numbers, but the lack of real firepower and size will make it difficult to beat any team.
15. Venezuela
Venezuela have a chance in their first game against Côte d'Ivoire to make history with a win in their U17 World Cup opener. The country is making some big waves at the youth level, but this tournament might be too early for the team to really make an impact.
Still this will be a great experience for the kids watching back home in Caracas and Maracaibo.
14. Côte d'Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire come to Istanbul for their maiden U17 World Cup journey with the confidence of being African champions. They open the tournament against fellow debutants Venezuela and could get a historic first win right away. The Elephants will be a fun team with great energy and exciting play.
But they struggled shooting at U16 AfroBasket 2025 (43.3 percent two-point shooting, 20.7 percent three-point shooting, 40.9 perfect free-throw shooting) and also committed 20.5 turnovers per game. Unless those numbers improve dramatically, they will have problems winning games.
13. China
China will be well prepared for the tournament with a number of warm-up games, including sending the team to the U18 Albert Schweitzer Tournament in April in Germany. The country also has two 2010-born gems in Zhang Yizhaojie and Zhang Ziyi, who will be called upon to lead the team as they did at the U16 Asia Cup 2025.
Wang Jianjun's team will face a major test to get into the Quarter-Finals as they will square off most likely against one of France, Italy or USA. But world basketball fans will probably see more from some of these players down the road with the senior national team.
12. Cameroon
Cameroon will be debuting in the U17 World Cup one summer after making their first appearance in the U19 Basketball World Cup 2025. The country has taken major steps forward already at the youth level, taking second place at the U16 AfroBasket 2025 in the first time playing in that competition. The federation handed the head coaching reins to former national team guard Parfait Bitee, who played at four FIBA AfroBaskets - including winning silver in 2007 - and the 2008 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men.
Bitee coaches in college in the USA and has added more talent from outside of Cameroon to the team that played last summer in Rwanda. And that will make them a stronger side in Istanbul.
11. Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico are playing in back-to-back U17 World Cups for the first time after taking fourth place in the U16 AmeriCup 2025 - beating Argentina in the Quarter-Finals to qualify for Istanbul. The Puerto Ricans have never failed to reach the Quarter-Finals at the U17 World Cup and will be hungry to make it 4-for-4 in that regard - and would love to add to their bronze in 2018.
The Latin Americans will play with their usual grit and energy that makes them uncomfortable for any opponent - just like they did against France in the Round of 16 two years ago. Puerto Rico relied heavily in 2024 on Felipe Quinones, and this year's team will count very much on DJ Gaines.
10. New Zealand
New Zealand are appearing in their fourth straight U17 World Cup and the Junior Tall Blacks made history two years ago by reaching the Semi-Finals. They failed to reach the Final of the U16 Asia Cup 2025 as they lost to China in the Semi-Finals.
Darron Larsen's team will be ready for the competition in Istanbul, led by Tawhiri Cate and Jayden Cecil, but it will be a tall ask for them to get back into the top four again.
9. Italy
Italy finished fourth at the U16 EuroBasket 2025 to reach the U17 World Cup for the second straight time. The country surprised many two years ago by reaching the Final against USA.
This summer's version of Italy does not have the star potential as two years ago, but they have a number of solid players who can make a difference among them Simone Ventura and Lapo Santini.
8. Slovenia
Slovenia will be playing at the U17 World Cup for the second time following a seventh-placed finish in 2022. The Balkan nation took third place at the U16 EuroBasket 2025 with a core of strong talents.
The team is not particularly deep but the likes of Lun Jarc, Jakob Siftar, Bine Pregl and Martin Trsan could carry Slovenia deep into the knockout round.
7. Lithuania
Lithuania are playing in the competition for the third straight edition and sixth overall - taking third place in 2016. The Baltic country would love to return to the podium again, and they have a group that finished second at the U16 EuroBasket 2025.
Lithuania's players also have won youth pan-European club competitions during the past two seasons, so they know what it takes to hoist a trophy. Gabrielius Buivydas will be the biggest star of the team but this group has a number of players who can take over games including last summer's captain Jokubas Kukta.
6. Australia
Australia come to Istanbul looking to forget a nightmare 15th place showing two summers ago. The Oceanian powers would love to play much closer to the back-to-back second placed finishes in 2012 and 2014.
Luke Paul will lead the team as one of the top players in the tournament while Yahya Basaran will be returning home as a Turkish native playing at the Centre of Excellence.
5. Türkiye
Türkiye have reached the podium in two of their three previous appearances, including taking third place two years ago. That was in front of their home fans - who traditionally give Turkish teams a major boost that leads to success.
This Türkiye group is led by the outstanding duo of Omer Kutluay and Darius Karustasu, and its success will also rely on which other players can step up to help them.
4. Canada
Canada seemed poised to finally get back to the podium. They have never missed this competition but the only hardware they collected was bronze back in the inaugural U17 World Cup in 2010. And the North Americans only reached the Semi-Finals one other time - fourth place in 2018.
Canada are riding a wave of momentum after beating USA in the U18 AmeriCup 2026 earlier this month. They also have some tremendous talent, topped by Isaiah Hamilton. But there are also top prospects like Liam Mitakaro, Jeremy Gohier and Kenyon St. Louis. Watch out for this Canada team.
3. France
France will have a disappointing ninth place finish two years ago in the back of their minds. But it would be a real shock if they crash out of the Round of 16 again. France have a strong group of talent looking to make it a third podium placing after silver in 2018 and bronze in 2022.
Nathan Soliman ranks as one of the best 2009-born players in the world and the team also stars exciting point guard Aaron Towo-Nansi and athletic forward Messi Yangala. Not to mention a legend in Tony Parker on the sidelines making his head coaching debut. One weakness the team might have is a lack of size.
2. Serbia
Serbia are back on the cadet global stage after missing the U17 World Cup in 2024. This team is the reigning U16 European champion and come into the competition with a legit chance to finally upend the Americans and hand them the first loss in U17 World Cup history. The team first wants to reach the podium - something they only did with third place in 2014.
Nikola Kusturica will wow fans watching the competition with his fantastic all-around game, but the team has plenty of other top talent, including Petar Bjelica and Matija Lukic. Spectators should hope we get to see a match-up of USA and Serbia along the way as it promises to be a real highlight.
1. USA
There is no way USA cannot be considered the top favorites. The Americans have never lost a game in the history of the competition with seven straight titles. And there is no reason they shouldn't make it 8-for-8 and two in a row in Istanbul. That being said, do not expect the same dominance from two years ago when they went from record to record to record.
The USA team has so many weapons with the likes of Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje, AJ Williams, Beckham Black, CJ Rosser and Cayden Daughtry, the latter who might lead the competition in scoring when it's all said and done. A champion is a champion until they are dethroned. So, USA are perched atop the Power Rankings.
Disclaimer: The Smart Power Rankings is not an official statement from FIBA. It is created solely to enhance the experience of the fans following the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2026.
FIBA