The 2019 FIBA World Cup begins on August 31 in China. Team USA is hoping to win third straight gold medal in the event. FIBA has shifted this world cup for one year, to avoid having its World Cup in the same year as FIFA. For the first time world cup will host 32 teams. Teams are split into eight groups, with the top two in each group making it through to the second round. In second part best 16 teams are split in four groups of four. The top two teams in each group go on to the quarter-finals then the semi-finals, where we get best two teams who will play in the final on September 15. Eight cities around China will host 92 games that will be played in 2019 world cup.
In total, 56 NBA players will play for 17 national teams at the World Cup.


FIBA 2019 World Cup preview

Favorite teams to win the world cup

Serbia (Group D)

World rank: #4
Just before the championship, Serbia lost Milos Teodosic, who practically did not play last season due to injury. Serbia will surely miss his experience. A big blow for the team is the injury of Dragan Milosavljevic, who have been entrusted with the most difficult tasks in defense. They will probably build team’s game on their high players. Team includes four NBA players and some players with leading roles in Eurolegue teams. The biggest star of Serbian national team will be Nikola Jokic(best center of the NBA league). The team showed great form in the World Cup preparation games. They have won all of ten games including Greece on their home soil (withouth Jokic). Among others, they have recorded wins over Italy, New Zealand, Turkey and Lithuania. An they are the only team withouth defeat in preparation games.
They have allready claimed two world cup championships in 2002 and 1998 under Yugoslavia.
Other teams in Group D: Italy (#11), Philippines (#30), Angola (#31)

Roster
NameHeigth / AgeTeam
Marko Simonovic
Small Forward
203 cm / 33Zenit Saint Petersburg
Bogdan Bogdanovic
Shooting Guard
197 cm / 27Sacramento Kings
Nemanja Bjelica
Forward
209 cm / 31Sacramento Kings
Vladimir Lucic
Forward
204 cm / 30FC Bayern München
Miroslav Raduljica(C)
Center
213 cm / 31Jiangsu Dragons
Stefan Birčevic
Power Forward
210 cm / 29Baskets Bonn
Nikola Jokic
Power Forward
213 cm / 24Denver Nuggets
Nikola Milutinov
Center
213 cm / 25Olympiacos
Vasilije Micic
Point Guard
197 cm / 25Anadolu Efes
Marko Guduric
Shooting Guard
197 cm / 24Fenerbahce
Stefan Jovic
Point Guard
196 cm / 29Bayern Munich
Boban Marjanovic
Center
221 cm / 31Philadelphia 76ers
Head coach: Aleksandar Dzordzevic (SRB) since november 2013. As coach he won three silver medals:
- 2014 World cup
- 2016 Olympic games
- 2017 Eurobasket
List of Serbia's upcoming games with TV schedule

USA (Group E)

World rank: #1
Since many NBA superstars are skipping the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup, Team USA is more vulnerable than ever before. They wil have hard time to win third straight gold medal in world cup. The only three NBA all stars players that will play in world cup are Brook Lopez, Khris Middleton i Kemba Walker. And the last two are the only ones left of the original lineup that Gregg Popovich drafted. Just before leaving for preparation games in Australia, Kyla Lowryja suffered injury and had to be replaced by De'Aaron Fox. The Sacramento organizer joined the preparations, played a few minutes of the game against Spain, and left the team. Lastly Kyle Kuzma was dropped in Australia due to an ankle injury. The defense will no doubt be the one on which Popovich will build the path to success. Still, they should have no problems winning the group. Lack of experience playing in the World Championships for most players, may be indicated in decisive relegation matches. Be that as it may, they are still top favorites with their line-up, which proves their superpower in the basketball world. USA team played four preparation games before world cup, they have won over Spain, Austraila and Canada. They have ben also beaten on second game with Australia by four points. They suffered their first defeat in 13 years.
Other teams in Group E: Turkey (#6), Japan (#25), Czech Republic (#36)

Roster
NameHeigth / AgeTeam
Harrison Barnes
Forward
203 cm / 27Sacramento Kings
Jaylen Brown
Forward
201 cm / 22Boston Celtics
Joe Harris
Guard
198 cm / 27Brooklyn Nets
Brook Lopez
Center
213 cm / 31Milwaukee Bucks
Khris Middleton
Guard/Forward
203 cm / 28Milwaukee Bucks
Donovan Mitchell
Guard
191 cm / 22Utah Jazz
Mason Plumlee
Center
211 cm / 29Denver Nuggets
Marcus Smart
Guard
193 cm / 25Boston Celtics
Jayson Tatum
Forward
203 cm / 21Boston Celtics
Myles Turner
Center
211 cm / 23Indiana Pacers
Kemba Walker
Guard
185 cm / 29Boston Celtics
Derrick White
Guard
196 cm / 25San Antonio Spurs
Head coach: Gregg Popovich (USA), five times NBA champion with San Antonio Spurs
List of U.S. upcoming games with TV schedule

Spain (Group C)

World rank: #2
Spain will be missing some key players. Pau Gasol and Sergio Rodriguez have decided to skip the tournament in China. The team will be led by an experienced Italian coach Sergio Scariolo. Much of Spain's roster is over 30, so they could have issues with their athletic limitations. Spain played six preparaitons games and lost only to USA team by nine points. They have recorded wins against Argentina, Dominican Republic, Congo, Ivory Coast and Lithuania.
Other teams in Group C: Puerto Rico (#12), Iran (#26), Tunisia (#33)

Roster
NameHeigth / AgeTeam
Rudy Fernandez
Small forward
199 cm / 34Real Madrid
Ricky Rubio
Point guard
194 cm / 28Phoenix Suns
Quino Colom
Point guard
196 cm / 30Valencia Basket
Marc Gasol
Center
217 cm / 34Toronto Raptors
Willy Hernangómez
Center
211 cm / 25Charlotte Hornets
Pierre Oriola
Power forward
208 cm / 26FC Barcelona
Xavi Rabaseda
Small forward
201 cm / 30CB Gran Canaria
Sergio Llull
Shooting guard
194 cm / 31Real Madrid
Juan Hernangómez
Power forward
207 cm / 23Denver Nuggets
Javier Beirán
Small forward
203 cm / 32CB Gran Canaria
Pau Ribas
Shooting guard
197 cm / 32FC Barcelona
Victor Claver
Power forward
207 cm / 31FC Barcelona
Head coach: Sergio Scariolo (ITA). As head coach he won three gold medals with Spain at EuroBasket2009, EuroBasket2011 and EuroBasket2015.
List of Spain's upcoming games with TV schedule

France (Group G)

World rank: #3
France will miss two key players Thomas Heurtel and Adrien Moerman. Both players got injured and will be out of basket courts for several months. Team will rely on its experienced players: Rudy Gobert, Vincent Poirier and Nicolas Batum. And their game will be based on strong defense, which they have already shown in the preparation matches. France has played eight preparation games. They lost to Serbia and Turkey.
Other teams in Group G: Germany (#17), Dominican Republic (#23), Jordan (#69)

Roster
NameHeigth / AgeTeam
Frank Ntilikina
Point guard
201 cm / 21New York Knicks
Amath M'Baye
Power forward
209 cm / 29Pınar Karşıyaka
Nicolas Batum
Small forward
204 cm / 30Charlotte Hornets
Evan Fournier
Shooting guard
201 cm / 26Orlando Magic
Nando de Colo
Guard
196 cm / 32Fenerbahce
Vincent Poirier
Center
211 cm / 25Boston Celtics
Andrew Albicy
Point guard
188 cm / 29Zenit Saint Petersburg
Louis Labeyrie
Power forward
210 cm / 27Valencia Basket
Mathias Lessort
Center
208 cm / 23Bayern Munich
Rudy Gobert
Center
219 cm / 27Utah Jazz
Axel Toupane
Small forward
203 cm / 27Unicaja
Paul Lacombe
Shooting guard
191 cm / 29AS Monaco
Head coach: Vincent Collet (FRA) since March 2009. As head coach he won gold medal at EuroBasket 2013, silver at Eurobasket 2011 and bronze at 2014 FIBA World Cup.
List of France's upcoming games with TV schedule

Greece (Group F)

World rank: #8
Giannis Antetokounmpo(MVP of the NBA 2019) is the undisputed leader of the national team. He's good form at World Cup is the best hope of Greece for a medal. The Greeks rosters combines experience, talent, depth and multiple solutions in every position. A team that can come a long way, but they miss a player for a throws from a distance. So, the recovery of Kostas Sloukas will be decisive for the team. Greece's best performance in World Cup was in 2006, when the team knocked out the Americans in the semifinal. They played final against Spain, where they lost, taking second place. Greece has played eight preparation games leading to World Cup. They have lost only one game against Serbia. In other games they have beaten Venezueal, Dominican Republic, Jordan, Turkey, Italy, Iran and Hungary.
Other teams in Group F: Brazil (#20), Montenegro (#22), New Zealand (#28)

Roster
NameHeigth / AgeTeam
Giannoulis Larentzakis
Shooting guard
201 cm / 25AEK Athens
Antonis Koniaris
Point guard
197 cm / 21Olympiacos
Nick Calathes
Point guard
196 cm / 30Panathinaikos
Ioannis Bourousis
Center
215 cm / 36Gran Canaria
Kostas Sloukas
Guard
196 cm / 29Fenerbahce
Georgios Papagiannis
Center
218 cm / 22Panathinaikos
Georgios Printezis
Power forward
208 cm / 34Olympiacos
Kostas Papanikolaou
Small forward
204 cm / 29Olympiacos
Vangelis Mantzaris
Point guard
198 cm / 29UNICS Kazan
Ioannis Papapetrou
Small forward
206 cm / 25Panathinaikos
Panagiotis Vasilopoulos
Forward
207 cm / 35Peristeri
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Swingman
211 cm / 24Milwaukee Bucks
Thanasis Antetokounmpo
Small forward
206 cm / 27Milwaukee Bucks
Head coach: Thanasis Skourtopoulos (GRE) since October 2017.
List of Greece's upcoming games with TV schedule

Last FIBA Basketball World Cup Winners

YearGoldSilverBronze
2014
Spain
United StatesSerbiaFrance
2010
Turkey
United StatesTurkeyLithuania
2006
Japan
SpainGreeceUnited States
2002
US
YugoslaviaArgentinaGermany
1998
Greece
YugoslaviaRussiaUnited States
1994
Canada
United StatesRussiaCroatia
1990
Argentina
YugoslaviaSoviet UnionUnited States
First World Cup was played in Argentina in 1950 with only ten teams. Home team Argentina claimed first World Cup title after win over United States. Since then world cup was played each four years until last year, whein it was decided to be postopened by one year.
Next world cup will be hosted by three countries Philippines, Japan and Indonesia. It will start in 2023 with also 32 teams.

Venues

World Cup is taking place in eight Chinese cities listed belllow.
CityVenue
Beijing
Capacity: 18,000
Wukesong Culture & Sports Center
Wuhan
Capacity: 11,700
Wuhan Sports Center
Guangzhou
Capacity: 11,600
Guangzhou Gymnasium
Foshan
Capacity: 14,700
Foshan International Sports Arena
Shanghai
Capacity: 18,000
Shanghai Oriental Sports Center
Nanjing
Capacity: 19,600
Youth Olympic Sports Park Gymnasium
Shenzhen
Capacity: 12,300
Shenzhen Bay Sports Center
Dongguan
Capacity: 16,000
Dongguan Basketball Center
Beijing will host games for Group A between China, Poland, Cote d'Ivoire and Venezuela. In all it will host 16 games including the final game on 15 of September.

The Wuhan Sports Center will host games for Group B teams Argentina, Russia, South Korea and Nigeria.

The Guangzhou Gymnasium will host ten games including Group C games between Spain, Iran, Puerto Rico and Tunisia.

The Foshan International Sports Arena. It will host ten games including Group D national teams of Italy, Serbia, Angola and the Philippines.

Shanghai Sports Center, will be hosting the games of Group E with teams USA, Turkey, Czech Republic and Japan. Thirteen games including the quarterfinals, will be played here.

Nanjing Youth Olympic Sports Park is the biggest indoor stadium in China and the largest gymnasium in whole Asia. The teams of Group F Greece, Brazil, New Zealand and Montenegro, will play here.

Shenzhen Universiade Sports Centre will also be hosting ten world cup games, including Group G games between France, Brazil, Jordan and the Dominican Republic.

Dongguan Basketball Center will be hosting eleven games including Group H games between Australia, Canada, Lithuania and Senegal.

Basket World Cup 2019 Groups

Group A P W L PTS
1 Switzerland 2 2 0 4
2 Azerbaijan 2 1 1 3
3 Kosovo 2 1 1 3
4 Ireland 2 0 2 2
Group B P W L PTS
1 Luxembourg 2 1 1 3
2 Norway 1 1 0 2
3 Romania 1 0 1 1
Group C P W L PTS
1 Armenia 2 1 1 3
2 Austria 1 1 0 2
3 Albania 1 0 1 1
Ranking of second-placed teams P W L PTS
1 Luxembourg 2 1 1 3
1 Switzerland 2 2 0 4
2 Austria 1 1 0 2

Where you can watch Basket World Cup 2019 online and on TV

For the detailed TV schedule click here - Basket World Cup 2019