Iran to face Spain, Ivory Coast, Brazil at FIBA World Cup
Iran will take on Spain, Ivory Coast, and Brazil in Group G of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 – cohosted by Japan, Indonesia, and the Philippines from August 25 to September 10.
The draw for the 19th edition of international basketball’s flagship event took place in Manila’s Araneta Coliseum on Saturday, where 32 teams were split into eight groups. Iran will open its campaign against Brazil in Jakarta’s Indonesia Arena on Aug. 26 before facing Ivory Coast in the same venue two days later.
The final day of the preliminary group phase will see Iran play defending champion Spain, which is the top-ranked side in the world and seeking a third title, on Aug. 30.
Iran has become a regular on the global stage as the three-time Asian champion will be playing in the World Cup for a fourth straight time and will be hoping to progress from the preliminary round for the first time.
Ranked 22nd in the latest FIBA Men’s Ranking, Iran collected one win in both 2010 and 2014 editions and then grabbed two victories in 2019, when it finished 23rd.
The top two of each group will advance to the second-round group stage, while the other teams will look for consolation when battling for the 17th-32nd spots.
In other groups, basketball giant USA will play Greece, Jordan and New Zealand in Group C in Manila.
As well as winning the tournament five times USA is a 12-time podium finisher – both World Cup records – but was knocked out by France in the 2019 quarterfinals when chasing a third successive title.
France – a silver winner at the Tokyo Olympics – will take on Canada, Latvia, and Lebanon in Group H.
Reigning Asian champion Australia, which won the bronze at the Tokyo Games, is in Group E alongside Germany, Finland, and Japan.
Argentina, which is ranked fourth in the world and was a finalist in 2019, failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in 41 years.