FIBA conducted the draw that determined how the 24 countries in World Cup qualifying would be divided into the 4 groups that will play round-robin tournaments in March to finalize the 16 team lineup for September’s main event. The four continental champions, Belgium, the United States, Australia, and Nigeria, will participate despite qualifying automatically, so they were spread out into each tournament for fairness. Germany qualifies as hosts, but will also participate, meaning that two additional teams will qualify from that tournament while three additional teams will qualify from the other three tournaments. Each tournament will also have a balance of teams from the different confederations.
Wuhan
China was awarded a qualifying tournament and they will host in Wuhan. The continental champion that they drew is Belgium. One of the groups was guaranteed to have two African teams based on the draw rules and it ended up being this one with Mali and the upstarts from South Sudan. Each group has two European teams and the other one in this group is Czechia, which progressed through a pre-qualifying tournament last summer to secure a spot here. Brazil is the team from the Americas in this group and they are trying to break an improbable four tournament streak of failing to qualify for a global event with this group providing them a solid chance.
Lyon
France was also awarded a qualifying tournament and will host in Lyon-Villeurbanne’s traditional home. Germany and Nigeria were drawn into this group so it will be extremely tough for the other three teams with the home team also expected to qualify. Colombia is the representative from the Americas and will be looking to make a big step up at this event and get back to the global stage for the first time in fifty years. There are two teams from Asia and the Philippines will have a tough task trying to qualify for their first ever global event with their American college players busy during this time. South Korea has often been counted out at qualifying events in recent years, but has made it to sixteen straight World Cups.
San Juan
Puerto Rico has been a consistent host and will welcome teams to San Juan this time. The United States will be here too while European representatives Spain and Italy have to be considered favorites to advance even though the latter is approaching three decades away from the global stage. Senegal is the representative from Africa while New Zealand is hoping that this is finally the year for them after failing to qualify four consecutive times since Oceania and Asia combined in this process.
Istanbul
The toughest tournament to predict might be the one in Turkey with Istanbul welcoming many teams who expect to advance. Australia is the one team that has nothing to worry about as the final continental champion. Argentina, on the other hand, should be considered the outsiders in this group. Hungary hosted an Olympic qualifying tournament and were so close to advancing, losing by a single point. They face two of the same teams in this group in Canada and Japan.
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