MIES (Switzerland) - The main storyline for Group D of the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2026 is two world powers - Australia and Serbia - being drawn together with two nations making their U17 Basketball World Cup debuts - Côte d'Ivoire and Venezuela.
Australia are the second most successful nation in the history of the competition with back-to-back second-placed finishes in 2012 and 2014. Serbia for their part are hungry for just their second podium placing after third place in 2014.
Côte d'Ivoire and Venezuela meanwhile will both say they are here for more than just the experience.
The Favorite: Serbia
Both Serbia and Australia won their respective continental championship but Serbia taking top honors at the U16 EuroBasket means quite a bit more than Australia claiming first in their fourth straight U16 Asia Cup. The European team is loaded with talent, topped by U16 EuroBasket Most Valuable Player Nikola Kusturica. But Serbia have much more to throw at opposing teams.
The Underdog: Côte d'Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire beat Angola, Egypt and Cameroon en route to winning the title at the U16 AfroBasket - their first continental crown - to reach the U17 World Cup for the first time. But fellow U17 World Cup debutants Venezuela finished third at the U16 AmeriCup, defeating Brazil, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico along the way.
The Pivotal Game: Venezuela v Côte d'Ivoire
The first day of action will include history as Venezuela and Cote d'Ivoire face off in their first game in U17 World Cup history. The winner not only will grab their first ever win, but they will also have the inside track of avoiding last place in the group and having to face the top placed team from Group C in the Round of 16.
More
Looking for more about the teams in Group D, don't forget to check the pieces introducing the 16 participating nations as well as these, on why each team can win the tournament.
FIBA