The 2023 FIBA World Cup Groups have been drawn, and the Canadian men’s team will be heading to Jakarta, Indonesia, in August.
The World Cup group stages will take place in the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia, with the final phase tipping off in Manila.
Canada will join France, Latvia and Lebanon in Group H. Canada qualified for the World Cup following an 11-1 record in qualifiers and now suit up for their first back-to-back appearance since 2002. The men’s squad’s best finish was sixth place in 1978 and 1982.
France cruised to a 10-2 record in the qualifiers and is a threat to win it all following a pair of third-place finishes in 2014 and 2019. This year’s tournament could mark the World Cup debut of Victor Wembanyama, who may join Evan Fournier and Rudy Gobert in the summer.
The Washington Wizards’ star Kristaps Porzingis, is expected to play for Latvia during the summer. Porzingis had an impressive season, averaging nearly twenty-four points per game.
Latvia won nine out of ten qualifying matches, and Porzingis played a pivotal role in two of those victories, scoring an average of twenty-five points per game.
Lebanon has made it to the tournament for the first time since 2010. During the qualifiers, the team had a 7-3 record and is under the leadership of Wael Arakji, who was named the 2022 FIBA Asia Cup MVP. Although Lebanon’s highest ranking in the World Cup was sixteenth, the team hopes to make a strong impression after being absent from the tournament for 13 years.The 2023 FIBA World Cup is a chance for Canada to advance toward the Olympics in Paris. The tournament is a step towards the 2024 Olympics, with the top two teams from Europe and the Americas earning berths.
