MIES (Switzerland) - Every team will be going into the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2026 wanting to be the one hoisting the trophy on July 5 in Istanbul. Only one nation will climb to the top of the podium. Why can't it be your favorite country?
We looked at all 16 teams and evaluated what they need to win the eighth edition of the biennial championship.
Here is Part 1 of Why they can win?
Australia
8th appearance - Best finish: 2nd place (2012, 2014)
Australia will come to the U17 World Cup with an unusual motivation of making good for a major disappointment of past results. The Crocs crashed to a worst-ever 15th-placed showing in 2024 - their previous worst result was seventh place in 2016. The current generation will be led by one of the top players in the entire tournament in Luke Paul, but head coach Greg Vanderjagt has plenty of other talented players to help Paul.
Among the other players to watch will be Antonio Browne and Isaiah Jorgenson. Australia had never previously missed the Quarter-Finals and finished second in back-to-back editions in 2012 and 2014. Look for the Crocs to challenge again for the podium.
Cameroon
1st appearance
Cameroon have never played at the FIBA U17 World Cup and will have the benefit of being a bit of an unknown. That will really only be for their first game - most likely the most winnable one in their Group B as they face China. The FIBA U16 AfroBasket 2025 runners-up will then take on Lithuania and Canada, who will have game footage to evaluate. Cameroon reached their African cadet Final last summer thanks to a tough defense, which held opponents to only 53.2 points per game. The only game they allowed more than 57 was in the title game, which Côte d'Ivoire won 62-49.
So defense will be the name of the game for new head coach Parfait Bitee, who took over the team since the U16 AfroBasket. A big part of the offensive load will likely be carried by Nolan Ngangmeni, who averaged 16.3 points last summer. Felix Deumi also scored in double figures and will be needed to produce for the debutants.
Canada
8th appearance - Best finish: 3rd place (2010)
Canada have only missed the Quarter-Finals once in seven appearances (taking ninth place in 2022), but they only twice reached the Semi-Finals and only have a third-placed podium from 2010 in their history. The North Americans want to change that this summer, and a major reason that could happen is Isaiah Hamilton. The wing was Canada's star last summer at the FIBA U16 AmeriCup 2025 in taking second place, with Hamilton averaging 21.2 points despite picking up only 3 points in the Semi-Finals as he suffered an ankle injury early on in the game. Hamilton, who was unavailable for the Final against USA, will have plenty of help though as Canada will bring a roster loaded with top talent.
Isaiah Clarke is another forward who excelled last summer and will be even better in Istanbul. Canada also have a monster of a man in the middle with Jeremy Gohier, who is 2010-born and listed at 229 cm / 7ft 6in. On top of that, the Canadians will have a boost in confidence after their brethren claimed the FIBA U18 AmeriCup 2026 crown - the first U18 continental title in their country's history.
China
7th appearance - Best finish: 7th place (2010, 2012, 2014)
China reached the Quarter-Finals the first three editions and took seventh place. But the Asians could not get a better finish than 10th place since then. This group of Chinese have the extra motivation coming into this U17 World Cup as they beat New Zealand in the Semi-Finals of the FIBA U16 Asia Cup 2025. That was China's first win over the Oceanian power and Wang Jianjun's team will know it can beat non-Asian teams as well.
China pulled off a massive surprise two years ago as they beat title challengers France in the group stage. This summer's team will be led by a quartet of top players. The 2010 forward duo of Zhang Yizhaojie and Zhang Zhi both were named to the All-Star Five last summer while Chen Yuxiu is a solid point guard and Zhang Chunzhi is a wing who can score including hitting from the outside. This is probably China's most talented U17 team in many years.
Côte d'Ivoire
1st appearance
Côte d'Ivoire made history last summer by winning their first FIBA U16 AfroBasket crown and thereby qualifying for their first FIBA U17 World Cup. Anderson Affi's men have a chance to write another chapter in their history in their first game as they open Group D play against fellow debutants Venezuela. That would have to be considered the most winnable game as the Elephants' then face Australia and Serbia in their other group play games.
Côte d'Ivoire will be somewhat of an unknown coming into the event but that advantage will go away after the first game. Affi will rely heavily on U16 AfroBasket Most Valuable Player Jean-Philippe Oka while Irene Raphael "Emmanuel" Ouedraogo will be a force in the middle for the team.
France
7th appearance - Best finish: 2nd place (2018)
France have a lot going for them as they come to Türkiye with high expectations. First off, they have one of the best guards in basketball history as their head coach as French legend Tony Parker makes his coaching debut. The team also is highlighted by two of the top players in all of Europe from the 2009-born generation in Nathan Soliman and Aaron Towo-Nansi. France also possess a number of other weapons that can help beat teams.
Add all that to the fact that this generation will be hungry to make good for one of the country's most disappointing losses in its youth basketball history. France were beaten by Puerto Rico in the Round of 16 two years ago in this competition, missing out on a chance to challenge USA in a possible Final. Don't be surprised if France end up standing on the podium when it's all said and done.
Italy
3rd appearance - Best finish: 2nd place (2024)
Italy are in back-to-back U17 World Cups for the first time after taking fourth place at the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2025 thanks to surprising France in the Quarter-Finals. The Italians are getting used to surprises at the cadet level as they shocked many by reaching the Final of the FIBA U17 World Cup 2024 for their first podium finish at the competition. New head coach Michele Catalani will have his work cut out for him as Italy have been drawn into Group A with United States, France and Japan.
That being said, the Italians will be battle-tested when they reach the Knockout Phase. One of the biggest positives about this Italian team is that they have a number of players who can take over games - meaning opposing defenses cannot focus on one player. Leonardo Nicolodi, Farid Compaore, Simone Ventura, Andrea Chouenkam and Mario Marchetti are among the top players Catalani will be looking at to lead.
Japan
3rd appearance - Best finish: 14th place (2014, 2022)
Japan fought through the FIBA U16 Asia Cup 2025 with a fourth-place result to reach the U17 World Cup for a third time. The Asians picked up only one victory in each of their previous appearances for two 14th-place finishes. Japan will not have an easy time in Istanbul as they have games against Italy, United States and France in their Group A odyssey. Head coach Tomoya Suehiro knows his team will have already faced the best of the best once they start the Knockout Phase.
But that will not make things any easier for the underdogs. Jack Shiratani has more experience than any other Japanese player and that will be needed in Istanbul. But the likes of Keiji Koshi and Shunsuke Miyazato also must step up for Japan to have any chance.
Stay tuned for Part 2 of Why they can win with the other eight teams at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2026.
FIBA