FAQ: FIBA Basketball World Cup
Canada will hit the court on September 1st at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Dongguan, China, on the hunt for Tokyo 2020 qualification.
First up for the Canadians is Australia. The two teams played two exhibition games against each other, with each country taking a win.
Canada’s Oshae Brissett, right, drives past Joe Ingles, of Australia, during an exhibition basketball game in Perth, Australia, Friday, Aug. 16, 2019. (Richard Wainwright/AAP Image via AP)
Here are fun facts about the World Cup and answers to some frequently asked questions:
When is Canada playing?
Canada is playing three games in the first round:
September 1: Canada vs. Australia – 3:30 a.m. EDT/12:30 a.m. PDT
September 3: Canada vs. Lithuania – 7:30 a.m. EDT/4:30 a.m. PDT
September 5: Canada vs. Senegal – 3:30 a.m. EDT/12:30 a.m. PDT
In order to make it to the second round, they must finish in the top two spots. The top two teams will then play two games against the top two teams from Group G (Dominican Republic, France, Germany or Jordan).
If Canada does not advance to the second round, they will play games for 17th-32nd classification.
Quarterfinal games will be played September 10th-11th, followed by semifinal games on September 13th.
Both the final and third place game will take place on September 15th.
For the full schedule visit the FIBA site.
Where is the World Cup?
The 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup is in China. There are eight groups, and each group is playing their games in a different city. Canada is in Group H, which is playing their games at the Dongfeng Nissan Cultural and Sports Centre in Dongguan.
Where can I watch the games?
Streaming service DAZN has the exclusive Canadian rights to this year’s FIBA Basketball World Cup.
How can Canada qualify for Tokyo 2020?
Credit: FIBA
Canada must finish as one of the top two teams in the Americas in order to qualify for Tokyo. They have to beat out the United States, Argentina, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Venezuela.
If the men’s team doesn’t qualify from the World Cup, they could have one more chance at one of the 4 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments 2020. The participating countries will be the 16 best non-qualifying teams and an additional two teams from each of the of Africa, Americas, Asia (and Oceania), and Europe regions. There will be a total of 24 teams divided in 4 tournaments of 6 teams each.
How often is the World Cup held?
It is held every four years. Previously it was called the FIBA Basketball World Championship. In prior years, only the winner of the tournament qualified for the Olympic Games.
Who is on Team Canada’s roster?
Canada’s roster consists of: Aaron Best, Khem Birch, O’Shea Brissett, Melvin Ejim, Brady Heslip, Cory Joseph, Kaza Kajami-Keane, Andrew Nembhard, Duane Notice, Kevin Pangos, Phil Scrubb, Thomas Scrubb, and Kyle Wiltjer.
Where do the players play when not representing Canada?
8 players – European Leagues (Liga ACB, BEKO Bundesliga, Ligue nationale de basket, Turkish Basketball League)
3 players – National Basketball League (NBA)
1 player – National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA)
1 player – Canadian Elite Basketball League
When was the last time Canada had a men’s team at the Olympics?
Canada’s Men’s Basketball team; (Clockwise from left) Head coach Jay Triano, Rowan Barrett, Greg Newton, Pete Guarsci, Todd MacCulloch, Michael Meeks, Eric Hinrichsen, Andrew Mavis, Sherman Hamilton, Steve Nash, Shawn Swords, David Daniels and Greg Francis at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. (CP Photo/ COA)
Sydney 2000 was the last Olympic Games that featured a Canadian men’s team. Canada was eliminated in the quarter-finals and finished in seventh place.
Are there any Olympians on the team?
There are no Olympians on the team. However, Melvin Ejim and Kyle Wiltjer represented Canada at the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games.
Has Canada won any Olympic medals in basketball?
Canada has one basketball medal at the Olympics, a silver won by the men at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin.
Are FIBA rules the same as the NBA?
No, there are differences in the key, fouls, timeouts, quarter lengths, goaltending, and the biggest one – court size.
READ: What is the difference between NBA and FIBA basketball rules?
How many medals has Canada the FIBA Basketball World Cup?
Since the inaugural World Cup in 1950, Canada has not won a medal. Our best finish came in the 1978 and 1982 World Cups, where we finished in sixth place for both.
