2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifiers: Window 4 preview, schedules and stars to watch 

The time has come again for men’s national basketball squads to assemble for 2023 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers, this time taking place from August 22-30.

This phase, known as Window 4, marks the beginning of the second round of qualification.

Window 3, which concluded on 7 July 2022, brought an end to the first round. The first set of countries were eliminated from the race to secure a ticket to next year’s showpiece event, which will be co-hosted by Japan, Philippines and Indonesia.

Those that remain have been drawn to make up groups of six teams. For the regions of Asia (including Oceania), Africa and the Americas, there are now two six-team groups per continent. For Europe there are four.

Countries will meet to play everyone in their group, home-and-away, over three windows to determine the participating teams for next year’s World Cup.

For the European region, the top three teams from each group will proceed meaning a total of 12 countries will represent the continent on the world stage.

For Africa, the top two teams from each group plus the best third-placed team will punch their ticket, while for the Americas it will be the top three teams from each group plus the best fourth-placed team.

As the hosts of the World Cup’s 'finals phase', the Philippines are already qualified, as are Japan who qualified as host by virtue of its ranking. This means the two countries occupy two of the eight available spots for teams coming from Asia (and Oceania).

Indonesia, the third co-host of the tournament, will not play in the tournament. The Indonesian Patriots needed to make it through the quarter-finals of the Asia Cup to boost their ranking enough to earn them an automatic qualification spot as hosts. However, the were denied passage to the final eight after being knocked out by China.

That result means one more ticket is freed up next year’s event so the top three Asian teams in each group the end of the second round, as well as Philippines and Japan, will be World Cup-bound.

In most instances the results from the first round have been carried through to the second across the qualifiers to ensure equal importance of every match played.

2023 Basketball World Cup qualifiers: Europe – Groups and schedule

After the conclusion of Window 3 in the European region, 24 teams have been divided into four groups of six.

Group I

1. Greece
2. Latvia
3. Turkey
4. Belgium
5. Serbia
6. Great Britain

Group J

1. Germany
2. Finland
3. Slovenia
4. Israel
5. Sweden
6. Estonia

Group K

1. France
2. Lithuania
3. Montenegro
4. Czech Republic
5. Bosnia and Herzegovina
6. Hungary

Group L

1. Italy
2. Iceland
3. Spain
4. Georgia
5. Ukraine
6. Netherlands

Group I will play across two game-days, which take place as follows:

Thursday 25 August 2022:

• Latvia v Turkey
• Serbia v Greece
• Belgium v Great Britain

Saturday 28 August 2022:

• Great Britain v Latvia
• Greece v Belgium
• Turkey v Serbia

Group J will play in two game-days, which will take place as follows:

Thursday 25 August 2022:

• Finland v Israel
• Sweden v Germany
• Slovenia v Estonia

Sunday 28 August 2022:

• Germany v Slovenia
• Estonia v Finland
• Israel v Sweden

Group K will play in two game-days, which will take place as follows:

Wednesday 24 August 2022:

• Hungary v Lithuania
• Montenegro v Bosnia and Herzegovina
• France v Czech Republic

Saturday 27 August 2022:

• Czech Republic v Hungary
• Lithuania v Montenegro
• Bosnia and Herzegovina v France

Group L will play in two game-days, which will take place as follows:

Wednesday 24 August 2022:

• Ukraine v Italy
• Georgia v Netherlands
• Spain v Iceland

Saturday 27 August 2022:

• Netherlands v Spain
• Iceland v Ukraine
• Italy v Georgia

The timings of each game are available on the FIBA European Qualifiers website.

European 2023 Basketball World Cup qualifiers: Stars to watch

There is an extra layer of intrigue heading into Window 4 for the European region.

With FIBA’s EuroBasket 2022 taking place just days after the World Cup qualifying games, the continent’s top teams will be fielding their best players to maximise their chances for results meaning some of the window’s matchups will be particularly enticing.

Giannis Antetokounmpo headlines the National Basketball Association (NBA) stars suiting up in their national colours.

The two-time NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) will compete for Greece in their two matches against Serbia and Belgium before then lining up at EuroBasket.

Joining the ‘Greek Freak’ in action will be Slovenia’s talismanic Luka Doncic, who proved lethal for his country at Tokyo 2020 in 2021; back-to-back NBA MVP and Olympic silver medallist Nikola Jokic of Serbia and France's new Minnesota Timberwolves pickup Rudy Gobert.

For those intrigued to see how some of the best of the NBA will do for their countries they won't have to wait long. Jokic and Antetokounmpo will go head-to-head when Serbia meet Greece on the first game-day.

2023 Basketball World Cup qualifiers: Asia (including Oceania) – Groups and schedule

After the conclusion of Window 3 in the Asia region, 12 teams have been divided into two groups of six:

Group E

1. New Zealand
2. Lebanon
3. Jordan
4. Philippines
5. Saudi Arabia
6. India

Group F

1. Australia
2. Kazakhstan
3. China
4. Iran
5. Japan
6. Bahrain

Group E will play in two game-days, which will take place as follows:

Thursday 25 August 2022:

• Jordan v India
• Saudi Arabia v New Zealand
• Lebanon v Philippines

Monday 29 August 2022:

• India v Lebanon
• New Zealand v Jordan
• Philippines v Saudi Arabia

Group F will play in two game-days across three days, which will take place as follows:

Thursday 25 August 2022:

• Bahrain v Australia
• Kazakhstan v China
• Iran v Japan

Monday 29 August 2022:

• Australia v Iran
• China v Bahrain

Tuesday 30 August 2022

• Japan v Kazakhstan

The timings of each game are available on the FIBA Asian qualifiers website.

Asian Basketball World Cup 2023 qualifiers: Stars to watch

After pushing Australia all the way to finish as runners-up of the FIBA 2022 Asia Cup last month Lebanon will look to continue what has been a stunning run of form.

Since the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers in 2019 the Cedars have only lost twice; their second loss the one the registered just recently against Australia in the recent regional tournament final.

Though it isn’t a perfect undefeated run, their record remains one of the strongest in the continent and sets them up nicely for another window of World Cup qualification.

Leading the way for Lebanon once more will be Asia Cup MVP Wael Arakji, who finished the regional competition as leading scorer at 26.0 points per game.

One of the teams set to line up against Lebanon will be future hosts, Philippines.

The formal confirmation that both Kai Sotto and Jordan Clarkson will be on the Gilas’ roster makes for a mouth-watering clash when the two teams do go head-to-head.

Having been a large part of the team for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament and the Asia Cup qualifiers the 2.18m-tall Sotto is set to make his first appearance for his country in the World Cup qualifiers, while former Sixth Man of the Year in the NBA Clarkson is expected to make his FIBA debut having carved out a name for himself at the Asian Games four years ago.

2023 World Cup Qualifiers in basketball: Americas – Groups and schedule

After the conclusion of Window 3 in the Americas, 12 teams have been divided into two groups of six:

Group E

1. Canada
2. Venezuela
3. Argentina
4. Dominican Republic
5. Panama
6. Bahamas

Group F

1. Brazil
2. USA
3. Uruguay
4. Mexico
5. Puerto Rico
6. Colombia

Group E will play in two game-days, which will take place as follows:

Thursday 25 August 2022:

• Canada v Argentina
• Bahamas v Venezuela
• Dominican Republic v Panama

Monday 29 August 2022:

• Venezuela v Dominican Republic
• Panama v Canada
• Argentina v Bahamas

The timings of each game are available on the FIBA Americas qualifiers website.

Americas Basketball 2023 World Cup qualifiers: Stars to watch

Unbeaten so far in their six qualification games, Canada remains the team to beat in the Americas.

With NBA stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jamal Murray and RJ Barrett all committed to the senior squad until Paris 2024 they remain a formidable prospect not least for their next two opponents in Window 4, Argentina and Panama.

Gilgeous-Alexander was particularly prolific for his country in Window 3, where in the two matches he played the Oklahoma Thunder guard averaged 26.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.5 steals. His performance ultimately earned him the round's MVP honours.

The Dominican Republic, who are in the same group as Canada but won’t meet them until next year, are bolstering their ranks with the inclusion of NBA rookie Chris Duarte.

The 25-year-old, who currently plies his trade for NBA franchise Indiana Pacers, will be looking to make his international debut topping what has been an impressive year an impressive season for the NBA debutant.

2023 World Cup Qualifiers in basketball: Africa – Groups and schedule

After the conclusion of Window 3 in the African region, 12 teams have been divided into two groups of six:

Group E:

1. Cote d’Ivoire
2. Cape Verde
3. Angola
4. Nigeria
5. Uganda
6. Guinea

Group F

1. South Sudan
2. Egypt
3. Tunisia
4. Congo DR
5. Senegal
6. Cameroon

Group E will play across three game-days, which will take place as follows:

Friday 26 August 2022:

• Guinea v Cape Verde
• Angola v Uganda
• Cote d’Ivoire v Nigeria

Saturday 27 August 2022:

• Cape Verde v Angola
• Nigeria v Guinea
• Uganda v Cote d’Ivoire

Sunday 28 August 2022:

• Angola v Nigeria
• Guinea v Uganda
• Cote d’Ivoire v Cape Verde

Group F will play across three game-days, which will take place as follows:

Friday 26 August 2022:

• Congo DR v Cameroon
• Egypt v Tunisia
• Senegal v South Sudan

Saturday 27 August 2022:

• Cameroon v Egypt
• Tunisia v Senegal
• South Sudan v Congo DR

Sunday 28 August 2022:

• Senegal v Cameroon
• Congo DR v Tunisia
• Egypt v South Sudan

The timings of each game are available on the FIBA African qualifiers website.

African basketball 2023 World Cup qualifiers: Stars to watch

Unlike the other regions, some African teams could confirm their place at the 2023 World Cup in Japan, Philippines and Indonesia with a window still in hand.

In 2019, at the last World Cup qualifiers, Nigeria and Tunisia had qualified by Window 4 owing to their 9-0 record.

This time around, there are two teams that could achieve the same feat: South Sudan and Cote d’Ivoire, who are currently both yet to register a loss.

South Sudan will be looking to their Window 3 MVP Sunday Dech for inspiration.

The 1.96m-tall guard had been selected to represent Australia where he currently is contracted with the Adelaide 36ers, but the 28-year-old ultimately made the decision to represent his native country.

Linking up with other Australian National Basketball League stars including Rookie of the Year Bul Kuol, in the three games Dech played in the last window he averaged eight points, 5.3 rebounds and 6.3 assists.

How to watch 2023 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers Window 4 

Some of the games will be available to watch through FIBA’s broadcast partners around the world. 

For online live video and highlights fans can subscribe to Courtside 1891. More information about how you can watch along can be found there. 

Some geographical restrictions may apply.