Pools unveiled for 2023 FIBA 3x3 World Cup
Title-holders France and Serbia will face strong opposition early as they attempt to go back-to-back at the World Cup taking place in Vienna, Austria from 30 May to 4 June.
Basketball 3x3
The FIBA 3x3 Basketball World Cup promises early tests for reigning world champions Serbia (men) and France (women) as pools for the event were announced today.
The event, from 30 May to 4 June in Vienna, Austria, will host 40 teams, with 20 men's teams and 20 women's teams divided into four pools of five.
In addition to the chance to take home the world crown, tickets to the Paris 2024 Olympic Qualifying Tournament are also on the line for teams competing in Vienna, adding an extra dimension of excitement to an already promising contest.
So far, 34 teams have qualified for this year's World Cup.
The final six remaining teams, currently named in the pools as 'WCQ', will be determined at the 2023 FIBA World Cup qualifier in Eliat, Israel on 6-7 May.
2023 FIBA 3x3 World Cup: Men's pools
Pool A
- Serbia
- France
- Germany
- Brazil
- Madagascar
Pool B
- United States of America
- Latvia
- Austria
- Australia
- WCQ
Pool C
- Lithuania
- Belgium
- Poland
- Puerto Rico
- WCQ
Pool D
- Netherlands
- Mongolia
- Switzerland
- Japan
- WCQ
A loaded Pool A means that reigning champs Serbia will have plenty on their plate to negotiate as the tournament gets underway.
France and Germany, who currently sit in 8th and 9th in the FIBA federation rankings (as of 8 March), will present strong opposition as well as 2022 AmeriCup silver medalists Brazil and 2022 Africa Cup champions Madagascar who round off the stacked group.
Pool B is also one not without its challenges.
Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medallists Latvia will have to reckon with No. 2 seeds USA, the home side in Austria and 2022 Commonwealth Games silver medalists Australia if they want to make the podium.
Last year's runners-up Lithuania in Pool C and No.4 seeds Netherlands In Pool D will be hoping for slightly easier runs than their rivals in their opening matches but nothing is a guarantee.
2023 FIBA 3x3 World Cup: Women's pools
Pool A
- France
- Netherlands
- Spain
- Austria
- Brazil
Pool B
- Germany
- Japan
- Poland
- Egypt
- WCQ
Pool C
- United States of America
- Canada
- Mongolia
- Hungary
- WCQ
Pool D
- Lithuania
- People's Republic of China
- Romania
- Italy
- WCQ
The small fact that a rematch of the 2022 Europe Cup women's final will be one of the opening games of Pool A reveals just how tough a test awaits France in the opening stages of their title defence.
As well as having to tackle the Netherlands, Les Bleues will face a spritely Spain and 2022 AmeriCup silver medallists Brazil.
Two-time World Cup winners and reigning Olympic champions United States will have a big battle on their hands in Pool C when they will line up against neighbours and last year's runners-up, Canada. With Mongolia waiting in the wings, none of these teams will want to slip early on.
Revenge might be on the mind of Lithuania when they go up against the People's Republic of China in Pool D. In the 2022 World Cup, the No.4 seeds were denied a podium finish after the Chinese pipped them to bronze.