At the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, which will open in August 2023 in the three countries of the Philippines, Indonesia, and Japan (Okinawa), the Slovenia national team, ranked 7th in the world, will compete at the Okinawa Arena (Okinawa City, Okinawa Prefecture). We are pleased to inform you that the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) has decided and announced that we will participate in the Japan round (Okinawa group stage).
Slovenia has an outstanding basketball IQ and is a participating country that is attracting attention as a powerhouse with NBA superstar Luka Doncic, who is called “Luka Magic” for his splendid passing skills. At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, which will be held in 2021, he made a great leap into the top 4 despite his first appearance at the Olympics, such as scoring 48 points in one game, which is tied for second in the history of the Olympics. Last month, Luka Doncic announced to the National Basketball Association that he will participate in the 2023 World Cup.
FIBA has been discussing the allocation of participating countries with the three host countries from a promotional point of view. In addition to this, it was decided to allocate the USA team to the Philippines venue, which was given priority due to the hosting of the final tournament, the Canada team to the Indonesia venue, and the Slovenia team to the Japan (Okinawa) venue.
FIBA has said this will not affect the fairness of any future competitions or draw process.
At the Japan (Okinawa) venue, two groups out of the “1st round” in which the four countries will compete in a round-robin match, and the “2nd round” and the “ranking match” will be held in which the four countries that won the first round will compete. . In addition, the Slovenian national team in this decision has only been decided to belong to one of the two groups that will be held at the venue in Japan (Okinawa) at present, and it has not been decided to be in the same group as Japan.
Group allocations for all participating countries, including the Japan (Okinawa) venue, will be decided by a draw held in Manila, the Philippines on April 29th next year. The lottery method and various rules will be officially announced by FIBA after the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers Window 6 to be held in February and all 32 participating countries have been determined.
■ FIBA decisions/announcements (=Venues for the following countries’ group stages)
○ Philippines Venue: USA (2nd in world ranking), Philippines (40th in world ranking)
○Indonesia Venue: Canada (World Ranking 15th)
○ Japan (Okinawa) Venue: Slovenia (7th in the world ranking), Japan (38th in the world ranking)
<注> Slovenia and Canada have qualified for the main draw. America is expected to participate in the next Window6.
All rankings are as of December 2022
■Comment from FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zakris
“In August next year, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Japan will finally host the world’s greatest basketball festival, co-sponsored by the three countries. It has been decided that the Slovenian national team will participate in the Okinawa Arena, which will be the venue for Japan, along with the Japanese national team. The Slovenia national team has Luka Doncic, who is also active in the NBA, and is one of the most watched teams among the countries participating in the World Cup.The Slovenian national team, along with the Japanese national team, is a basketball fan all over Japan, and I believe that it will greatly boost Okinawa.
In addition, the selection of venues for some of the participating countries was decided by the FIBA Central Council from the perspective of tournament promotion. After assigning priority to the Philippines venue, which will hold the group stage and final tournament, we selected the participating countries for both venues in Japan and Indonesia.
Everyone in Japan and Okinawa, next August, you will see the world’s top level players in Okinawa. I am looking forward to seeing everyone at the Okinawa Arena.”
■ About the Slovenian National Team
Joined FIBA in 1992 after Slovenia became independent from Yugoslavia in 1991.
FIBA World Rank 7th (as of December 2022).
○ Main results in major competitions
2006 Saitama Tournament 12th place (first appearance)
2010 Turkey Tournament 8th place
2014 Spain Tournament 7th
The 2019 China Conference will not appear
* Already qualified for the 2023 World Cup next summer
2021 Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics (4th place)
* Luka Doncic’s 48 points per game is the highest score per game among all players.Selected for the top 5 of the competition
6th in 2005
6th in 2005
7th in 2007
4 in 2009
7th in 2011
5th in 2013
2017 Winner
*Goran Dragic wins MVP and is selected for the top 5 of the tournament
Luka Doncic selected for the top 5 of the tournament
6 in 2022
*Luka Doncic’s 47 points per game is the highest score per game among all players.
■ Conference overview
nameFIBA Basketball World Cup 2023
scheduleAugust 25th (Friday) to September 10th (Sunday), 2023
Host countryPhilippines, Indonesia, Japan (Okinawa)
*Okinawa group stage will be held in the above three countries,
The final tournament will be held in Manila, the capital of the Philippines.
country of appearance*As of December 2022, 17 out of 32 participating countries have already decided to participate.
Asia Zone (8 Qualifying Slots): Australia / New Zealand / China / Japan* / Philippines* / Lebanon
AFRICA ZONE (5th place): Ivory Coast
USA ZONE (slot 7): Canada
EUROPE ZONE (12 Qualification Slots): Latvia / Germany / Finland / Italy / Spain / Slovenia / France
/ Greece / Lithuania
<注>An asterisk
after the country name indicates participation in the host country quota.Japan venue
Okinawa Arena (1-16-1 Yamauchi, Okinawa City, Okinawa Prefecture)
■ Ticket information
Currently, Okinawa group stage tickets are on sale only with a 2-day pass.
Other ticket information will be announced after the draw for the pairings to be held in Manila, Philippines on April 29th.▼Ticket site
https://register.worldcup.basketball/ja/#japan
* Sales will end as soon as the number of sales reaches the upper limit
