From August 25th to September 10th, the best teams from around the world met in Indonesia, the Philippines and Japan for the 18th edition of the Basketball World Championship. The program features 32 teams fighting for the highest title, but also trying to get their ticket to the next Olympic Games in Paris in 2024. Today the favorites for the title and medals of this 2023 FIBA ​​World Championship are presented.

Basketball World Cup 2023: who will be Spain’s successor?

If 32 nations will be on board on Friday, August 25th, few of them can claim to be in Manila on August 25th Sunday September 10th at the beginning of the final. If Team USA is the big favorite despite a team that will conquer FIBA ​​basketball, other nations like France, Spain, Australia and Canada will want to come and tickle the American ogre, without forgetting Lukas Slovenia Doncic.

Team USA, logical favourite?

As the 2021 Olympic champion but only a 2019 quarterfinalist (beaten by the French side), the United States will be looking to reclaim the title lost in China. To that end, Grant Hill and Steve Kerr have decided to bank on youth, with a group talented on paper but lacking experience on the international stage. With Mikal Bridges, Jalen Brunson, Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton, Brandon Ingram or even Jaren Jackson Jr., the US squad is fascinating on paper with up-and-coming players who can make the difference on their own. Talent is lacking on both offense and defense and the only weak point might be on the inside where behind Jaren Jackson Jr. rotations could miss. But if we look at the opportunities in other positions, we tell ourselves that Team USA’s real weak point will primarily be its lack of collective experience on the international stage against teams from all over the world, who have steadily narrowed the gap, which separated them.

Group C: USA, Greece, New Zealand, Jordan

Just another Vegas show!

The highlights of 🇺🇸 #USABMNT‘s 43-point win in the opening game of the USA Basketball Showcase! pic.twitter.com/QLGOr5Cbc4

— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) August 8, 2023

Spain defends its title

Spain, reigning World and European champions, may not have the attractive squad they had in the past. But despite everything, La Roja keeps winning! Around the Hernangomez brothers (Juancho and Willy, who will return to Europe after the competition), Sergio Llull, Usman Garuba and Rudy Fernandez, the Spanish selection has experience and know-how that will allow them to overcome any obstacle, that gets in his way. Admittedly, 2019 World Cup MVP Ricky Rubio has opted to retire and Lorenzo Brown has opted out, but the player academy of Sergio Scariolo’s formation leaves him a head start over a large number of teams competing at this 2023 FIBA ​​World Cup are present.

Group G: Spain, Brazil, Iran, Ivory Coast

Finally the Holy Grail for the French team at the 2023 FIBA ​​World Cup?

Bronze medalist in 2019, then Olympic and European runners-up in 2021 and 2022, the French team progresses with final victory at the 2023 Basketball World Cup. Despite the absence of Victor Wembanyama, the Blues will have ambitions with the return of Nando de Colo and Nicolas Batum. With a collective game that has been under construction for six years now, France has shown in recent competitions that they have the talent but also the mentality to win the matches that they have been denied in the past. With the presence of Rudy Gobert in the team providing a top-notch defensive base, and attacking talents like Evan Fournier and Guerschon Yabusele, Vincent Collet has all the weapons to go far at this 2023 World Cup, with an eye already on the Paris 2024 Olympics , which will do well in Asia.

Group H: FranceCanada, Latvia, Lebanon

Slovenia by Luka Doncic, a candidate for the medal

When you have Luka Doncic in your squad, of course you strive for the medal! The Slovenian prodigy, winner of Euro 2017, is as keen as ever for the 2023 FIBA ​​as he hasn’t played since April. The Mavs player sheds a few pounds and is at the forefront of a selection entirely dedicated to the leader. With the game still in high demand, Slovenia will be a side to watch very closely, although the loss of Vlatko Cancar during the pre-season will weigh heavily on all the competition. But with Luka Doncic at the helm, the Triglav collective will continue to shine regardless of the players.

Group F: Slovenia, Venezuela, Georgia, Cape Verde

Always impressive boomers

After decades of chasing a medal at international level, Australia finally made it onto the podium, with a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. As a semi-finalist at the last World Cup in 2019, where she was close to the release of La Roja, the Boomers will still have a quality workforce on paper. With Captains Patty Mills and Joe Ingles, Privates Matisse Thybulle and Jock Landale and newcomer Josh Giddey competing in his first international competition, Australia are looking great and will be another medal contender.

Group E: Japan, Australia, Germany, Finland

Basketball World Cup 2023: what about Canada?

After years of imagining what the Canadian team would look like with its NBA players, now we have an idea! This summer, Jamal Murray (Nuggets), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder), RJ Barrett (Knicks), Dillon Brooks (Rockets), Luguentz Dort (Thunder) or Kelly Olynyk (Jazz) will be reunited in the Canadian jersey. With their Murray SGA Barrett rear-wheel drive, Maple Leaf country can aim for the very top without a shadow of a doubt, but doubts about their collective experience and FIBA ​​play (like the USA) remain the main questions in this selection. With a first game against the French team on August 25, Canada is very quickly established.

Group H: FranceCanada, Latvia, Lebanon