BAKU (Azerbaijan) - The last tickets for the FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2025 are up for grabs on May 24-25, as 12 desperate teams fight to qualify for this year's showpiece in fan favorite Ulaanbaatar. They will have their dreams on the line during the two-day World Cup Qualifier 2025 with six tickets - three per gender - available for the 3x3 World Cup on June 23- 29. It is the first World Cup since 2023 due to the Paris Olympics being held last year. Let's take a closer look at the action in Baku, the capital of emerging 3x3 nation Azerbaijan
Where can I watch the World Cup Qualifier? The action starts on May 24 and you can follow it live on the FIBA 3x3 YouTube and Facebook pages.
Who is competing in Baku? Men: Montenegro, Rwanda, Iran, Canada, Great Britain, Azerbaijan (host) Women: Chile, Chinese Taipei, Brazil, Latvia, Azerbaijan (host), Egypt What are the pools?
Men's Pool A: Montenegro, Rwanda, Iran Pool B: Canada, Great Britain, Azerbaijan
Women's
Pool A: Chile, Chinese Taipei, Brazil Pool B: Latvia, Azerbaijan, Egypt
Who are the favorites? This is a tough field with all 12 teams sure to put everything on the line being so close to their World Cup dreams. In the men's, Montenegro have top billing and they should be extremely confident with scoring machine Milos Jovanovic starting the season on fire. He has played a key role in Hangzhou's (CHN) semi-final runs on back-to-back stops on the World Tour, averaging 6 ppg on the season.
No.2 Canada just have to be rated among the favorites because they have legendary sniper Steve Sir who can go on epic heaters, while Iran went on a giant-killing run to reach last year's Asia Cup final and they can absolutely shock the world again.
In the women's, Azerbaijan will have their passionate fans by their side as they look to once again inspire the nation like their stirring effort at the Paris Olympics. Alexandra Mollenhauer and Dina Ulyanova will provide invaluable big-game Olympic experience.
African powerhouse Egypt have a knack of going up a level on the big stage and so too Brazil, who have reached the podium at all four AmeriCups.
Who are the players to watch?
Big fella Jerome Desrosiers is ready to get in attack mode for Canada having been a dominant force on the World Tour for some time now.
He's not the only dude who can play bully ball because Great Britain have a weapon of their own with Ashley Hamilton showing why he's a tour de force in his first steps on the World Tour.
Towering Mohammadmahdi Rahimi inspired Iran on their dazzling Asia Cup 2024 run and he's capable of more heroics.
In the women's, Chile are dreaming big and their chances rest with star Ziomara Morrison who always brings it when the lights are bright. Brazil's Luana de Souza has three silver AmeriCup medals to prove she's a natural born winner. Her energy sparks this Americas powerhouse and she is a two-way presence who does all the little things.
While Nadine Selaawy is an Africa Cup champ and also previously represented Egypt at the World Cup. The 27-year-old will do everything she can to lead her country once again to 3x3's biggest party.
FIBA