WC

World Cup

World · Basketball

Season 2025

World CupToday's Matches

Live scores, upcoming kick-offs, and finished results for today. Data refreshes automatically so you never miss a moment.

World CupTeam Stats

Side-by-side performance comparison of all 86 teams in the World Cup. Latvia leads with 21 wins this season. The colour-coded heatmap highlights wins, losses, scoring, scoring difference, and win percentage — making it easy to spot the strongest and weakest teams at a glance for betting analysis.

Top Scoring Teams

86 teams in the World Cup 2025 season ranked by wins. Latvia leads with 21 wins. Their 1-season average is 7.0 wins per season. Latvia shows the biggest improvement this season with 14 more wins than their past average. Compare current form against historical averages to spot rising and declining teams — useful for match result and outright winner betting.

1LLatvia21Won
Played24Lost3Points For2058Points Against1761Avg W7.0Avg L5.0
2GGermany18Won
Played20Lost2Points For1704Points Against1485Avg W6.0Avg L3.5
3CCanada16Won
Played19Lost3Points For1835Points Against1372Avg W6.0Avg L5.0
4LLithuania15Won
Played20Lost5Points For1635Points Against1496Avg W9.0Avg L2.3
5AAustralia14Won
Played17Lost3Points For1462Points Against1078Avg W7.3Avg L3.0
6UUSA14Won
Played19Lost5Points For1784Points Against1526Avg W11.0Avg L1.3
7SSSouth Sudan14Won
Played16Lost2Points For1303Points Against1103Avg WAvg L
8MMontenegro14Won
Played21Lost7Points For1620Points Against1526Avg W8.0Avg L9.0
9FFrance13Won
Played16Lost3Points For1288Points Against1040Avg W8.0Avg L3.3
10SSerbia13Won
Played18Lost5Points For1540Points Against1355Avg W8.0Avg L4.3
11SSpain12Won
Played15Lost3Points For1262Points Against1015Avg W9.3Avg L2.3
12DRDominican Republic12Won
Played17Lost5Points For1410Points Against1306Avg W5.5Avg L5.5
13SSlovenia12Won
Played20Lost8Points For1698Points Against1652Avg W4.0Avg L5.0
14IItaly12Won
Played17Lost5Points For1404Points Against1379Avg W10.0Avg L6.0
15BBrazil11Won
Played16Lost5Points For1368Points Against1168Avg W6.7Avg L3.3
16LLebanon11Won
Played17Lost6Points For1473Points Against1349Avg W3.0Avg L5.0
17AAngola11Won
Played17Lost6Points For1257Points Against1136Avg W4.0Avg L4.7
18ICIvory Coast11Won
Played17Lost6Points For1277Points Against1224Avg W4.0Avg L6.5
19EEgypt10Won
Played17Lost7Points For1293Points Against1177Avg W2.5Avg L5.0
20CChina10Won
Played16Lost6Points For1258Points Against1198Avg W5.0Avg L5.5
21JJapan10Won
Played17Lost7Points For1333Points Against1304Avg W8.0Avg L9.0
22FFinland10Won
Played16Lost6Points For1306Points Against1288Avg W3.5Avg L4.0
23MMexico10Won
Played15Lost5Points For1234Points Against1225Avg W3.5Avg L5.5
24IIceland10Won
Played19Lost9Points For1499Points Against1501Avg W2.0Avg L4.0
25NZNew Zealand9Won
Played14Lost5Points For1260Points Against1065Avg W6.0Avg L3.7
26PRPuerto Rico9Won
Played15Lost6Points For1205Points Against1208Avg W3.7Avg L4.7
27BBelarus8Won
Played12Lost4Points For963Points Against807Avg W2.0Avg L7.0
28SSweden8Won
Played15Lost7Points For1200Points Against1107Avg W5.0Avg L7.0
29AArgentina8Won
Played12Lost4Points For944Points Against865Avg W8.7Avg L2.7
30VVenezuela8Won
Played17Lost9Points For1298Points Against1233Avg W10.0Avg L6.0
31GGreece8Won
Played14Lost6Points For1053Points Against1058Avg W7.0Avg L2.3
32PPortugal8Won
Played16Lost8Points For1135Points Against1146Avg W0.0Avg L3.0
33GGeorgia8Won
Played16Lost8Points For1262Points Against1280Avg W4.0Avg L7.0
34JJordan8Won
Played16Lost8Points For1228Points Against1247Avg W4.0Avg L7.0
35SSenegal7Won
Played12Lost5Points For870Points Against792Avg W6.0Avg L5.0
36NNigeria7Won
Played12Lost5Points For834Points Against774Avg W13.0Avg L4.0
Played15Lost8Points For1200Points Against1187Avg W3.5Avg L6.0
38CVCape Verde7Won
Played16Lost9Points For1159Points Against1196Avg WAvg L
39UUkraine6Won
Played11Lost5Points For874Points Against835Avg W3.5Avg L4.5
40BBelgium6Won
Played12Lost6Points For864Points Against833Avg W1.0Avg L5.0
41TTunisia6Won
Played11Lost5Points For704Points Against678Avg W6.5Avg L4.0
42IIran6Won
Played17Lost11Points For1177Points Against1243Avg W4.0Avg L5.0
43HHungary6Won
Played12Lost6Points For871Points Against954Avg W5.0Avg L6.0
Played11Lost6Points For831Points Against897Avg W7.0Avg L11.0
45UUruguay5Won
Played12Lost7Points For867Points Against935Avg W6.0Avg L6.0
46SASaudi Arabia5Won
Played12Lost7Points For818Points Against900Avg WAvg L
47KKazakhstan5Won
Played12Lost7Points For779Points Against872Avg W3.0Avg L8.0
48SSlovakia5Won
Played16Lost11Points For1102Points Against1227Avg W1.0Avg L5.0
49TTurkey4Won
Played11Lost7Points For852Points Against826Avg W7.0Avg L3.3
50IIsrael4Won
Played10Lost6Points For764Points Against761Avg W5.0Avg L5.0
51CCameroon4Won
Played12Lost8Points For773Points Against818Avg W7.0Avg L5.0
52DCD.R. Congo4Won
Played11Lost7Points For612Points Against711Avg W2.0Avg L1.0
53EEstonia4Won
Played12Lost8Points For870Points Against977Avg W7.0Avg L9.0
54RRussia3Won
Played3Lost0Points For261Points Against212Avg W8.0Avg L4.0
55GGuinea3Won
Played12Lost9Points For792Points Against847Avg W0.0Avg L6.0
Played12Lost9Points For878Points Against968Avg W12.0Avg L8.0
57PPanama3Won
Played12Lost9Points For822Points Against944Avg W4.0Avg L8.0
58BBahamas3Won
Played12Lost9Points For931Points Against1103Avg W1.0Avg L5.0
Played4Lost2Points For249Points Against253Avg WAvg L
60MMali2Won
Played5Lost3Points For210Points Against236Avg W3.0Avg L9.0
61KKosovo2Won
Played6Lost4Points For455Points Against511Avg W2.0Avg L8.0
Played10Lost8Points For643Points Against758Avg W1.0Avg L3.0
63LLuxembourg2Won
Played10Lost8Points For763Points Against881Avg WAvg L
64UUganda2Won
Played12Lost10Points For733Points Against933Avg W1.0Avg L5.0
65BBahrain2Won
Played11Lost9Points For694Points Against924Avg WAvg L
66PPoland1Won
Played5Lost4Points For354Points Against377Avg W11.0Avg L8.0
67BBulgaria1Won
Played6Lost5Points For446Points Against475Avg W8.0Avg L8.0
68RRwanda1Won
Played6Lost5Points For340Points Against391Avg W3.0Avg L9.0
69CChile1Won
Played6Lost5Points For396Points Against454Avg W2.0Avg L10.0
70SSyria1Won
Played6Lost5Points For416Points Against476Avg W2.0Avg L10.0
71CRCentral African Republic1Won
Played6Lost5Points For367Points Against451Avg W5.0Avg L6.0
72AAlbania1Won
Played6Lost5Points For391Points Against493Avg W0.0Avg L4.0
73CCyprus1Won
Played6Lost5Points For354Points Against481Avg WAvg L
Played10Lost9Points For697Points Against832Avg W1.0Avg L4.0
75CColombia1Won
Played10Lost9Points For731Points Against914Avg W1.0Avg L5.0
76CCroatia0Won
Played5Lost5Points For357Points Against401Avg W2.7Avg L5.0
77CCuba0Won
Played6Lost6Points For414Points Against473Avg W0.0Avg L6.0
78DDenmark0Won
Played4Lost4Points For278Points Against338Avg WAvg L
79RRomania0Won
Played4Lost4Points For279Points Against358Avg W2.0Avg L4.0
Played11Lost11Points For781Points Against896Avg W6.0Avg L8.0
81CTChinese Taipei0Won
Played6Lost6Points For366Points Against544Avg W1.0Avg L5.0
82UIUnited States Virgin Islands0Won
Played6Lost6Points For388Points Against577Avg W3.0Avg L9.0
83IIndonesia0Won
Played6Lost6Points For351Points Against541Avg WAvg L
84PParaguay0Won
Played6Lost6Points For330Points Against521Avg W0.0Avg L6.0
85KKenya0Won
Played6Lost6Points For255Points Against449Avg WAvg L
86IIndia0Won
Played10Lost10Points For611Points Against895Avg W0.0Avg L6.0

World CupPast Seasons

Browse 5 archived seasons of the World Cup, from 2023 to 2027. Each season page includes full standings, top scorers, and match results — useful for comparing historical performance and identifying long-term betting patterns.

History 10 Apr 2025

Founded1950

The FIBA Basketball World Cup was established in 1950 as the first international basketball championship, predating the inclusion of basketball at the Olympic Games by four years. Originally contested by just 10 teams, the tournament expanded dramatically through the decades—from 16 teams in 1974 to the current 32-team format adopted in 2019. The competition has undergone significant structural evolution, with the frequency changing from biennial (1950–2014) to quadrennial (2019 onwards) to align with the Olympic cycle. A landmark rebranding in 2010 established the modern naming convention as the "FIBA Basketball World Cup," replacing the previous "FIBA World Championship" designation. The tournament's global profile surged during the 1990s and 2000s, driven by increased NBA participation and expanded international media rights deals, transforming it into a genuine global sporting spectacle with viewership reaching billions.

  • 1950 — First FIBA World Championship held in Buenos Aires, Argentina with 10 teams
  • 1978 — Brazil sets single-game scoring record with 154–97 victory over China
  • 1992 — Tournament expands to 16 teams, establishing the modern competitive format
  • 2002 — Yugoslavia wins championship in USA, marking the nation's fifth title before dissolution
  • 2010 — Competition rebranded as FIBA Basketball World Cup; expanded to 24 teams
  • 2019 — Tournament expands to 32 teams; hosted in China with record global viewership
  • 2023 — Germany wins inaugural title, defeating Serbia 83–77 in Manila after undefeated run

Competition Format 10 Apr 2025

Teams32

The FIBA World Cup features 32 national teams divided into eight groups of four teams each in the opening round. Teams play a round-robin format within their group, earning 2 points for a win and 1 point for a loss. The top two teams from each group advance to a 16-team knockout stage consisting of quarter-finals, semi-finals, and a championship final. The tournament culminates in medal matches determining gold, silver, and bronze medallists. Unlike continental qualifiers, the World Cup employs no relegation mechanism as it represents the elite tier of international basketball. The knockout format ensures that only the strongest teams can progress, with the final champion crowned through a single decisive match.

Records 10 Apr 2025

Most titlesUnited States (5)All-time top scorerOscar Schmidt (843 points)

The 2023 tournament saw 32 teams play 80 matches, generating exceptional competitive depth. Germany's undefeated championship run marked the first title for a European nation outside the Soviet Union/Yugoslavia/Russia axis.

Analysis 10 Apr 2025

Current Season Analysis

The FIBA World Cup operates on a four-year cycle with the 2023 tournament in Indonesia, Japan, and the Philippines now concluded. Germany claimed their maiden World Cup title in a stunning upset, navigating an undefeated path through the tournament to defeat Serbia 83–77 in the championship final. The German squad's breakthrough represented a seismic shift in international basketball dynamics, ending decades of dominance by traditional powerhouses. Dennis Schröder orchestrated Germany's success with 28 points in the final, showcasing the depth and sophistication of European basketball at its highest level. The tournament's competitive landscape revealed the emergence of multiple contenders—Spain, France, and Canada all demonstrated championship-calibre performances, while the United States, despite fielding an elite roster, fell short of expectations with a semi-final exit to Germany.

The 2023 edition showcased basketball's truly global evolution. Serbia reached the final despite significant roster constraints, highlighting the competitive parity now present at the World Cup level. The tournament produced exceptional individual performances, with multiple players recording 20+ point games and demonstrating the elevated athleticism and skill level of international basketball. The group stage format ensured competitive balance, with even traditional powerhouses facing genuine challenges from emerging nations across Africa, Asia, and the Americas. The knockout phase delivered dramatic finishes—Germany's 113–111 semi-final victory over the USA stands as one of the tournament's most memorable moments, with Andreas Obst delivering a game-high 24 points in a display of clutch shooting that defined the upset.

Beyond the medal positions, the 2023 World Cup revealed fascinating storylines about continental basketball development. European nations occupied three of the top four positions (Germany, Serbia, France), reflecting the continent's strategic investment in player development and coaching infrastructure. The presence of Canada in the medal rounds—the only non-European team in the top four—underscored the Americas' continued competitive strength. Asian hosts Indonesia and Japan demonstrated their commitment to basketball development despite not advancing beyond the group stage, while African representatives showed steady improvement in tournament competitiveness, signalling the sport's expanding global footprint.

Tournament Structure and Competitive Format

The FIBA World Cup's evolution from a biennial 10-team competition to a quadrennial 32-team spectacle reflects basketball's transformation into a truly global sport. The current format, implemented in 2019, represents FIBA's strategic vision to maximize competitive opportunities while maintaining championship prestige. The eight-group structure ensures that every nation plays meaningful matches, with qualification pathways involving rigorous continental qualifiers that precede the tournament proper. This structure contrasts sharply with the FIFA World Cup model, creating a more inclusive yet equally competitive environment where depth of talent across all regions determines success rather than historical pedigree alone.

The transition to the four-year cycle in 2019 aligned the basketball calendar with Olympic years, creating a compelling narrative arc for fans and broadcasters. Teams now have extended preparation periods between tournaments, enabling greater tactical sophistication and player development. The 32-team format generates 80 matches across the group and knockout stages, providing unprecedented broadcast content and global engagement opportunities. Each nation's path to the World Cup involves continental qualifiers held over multiple windows, with FIBA employing a sophisticated ranking system to determine seeding and group placement.

Historical Dominance and Shifting Power Structures

The United States' five World Cup titles (1954, 1986, 1994, 2010, 2014) established basketball's original superpower, yet the 2023 championship demonstrated that era's conclusion. Germany's victory represents the first title for a nation outside the traditional USA-Yugoslavia-Soviet Union triumvirate that had monopolized championships since 1950. The Soviet Union won three titles (1967, 1974, 1982) before dissolution, while Yugoslavia accumulated five championships (1970, 1978, 1990, and two during the unified state period), establishing Eastern Europe as basketball's intellectual centre for tactical innovation and player development.

Spain's emergence as a two-time champion (2006, 2019) signalled Europe's ascendancy in global basketball. The Spanish national team's success reflected a philosophical commitment to fundamentals, ball movement, and positional versatility that influenced how basketball is coached worldwide. Pau Gasol and Ricky Rubio became global ambassadors for Spanish basketball excellence, demonstrating that championship success need not depend on NBA-dominated rosters. Brazil's historical significance—winning the 1959 and 1963 titles and establishing the single-game scoring record in 1978—reflects South America's foundational contributions to basketball's global development, though the nation has not won since 1963.

Record Performances and Statistical Benchmarks

Oscar Schmidt's 843-point career total across four World Cups (1978–1990) remains the most comprehensive individual achievement in tournament history, averaging 24 points across 35 appearances. Schmidt's consistency across multiple decades established a benchmark that modern players pursue but rarely achieve. Luis Scola's 35 appearances across multiple World Cups reflects Argentina's sustained competitive presence, though his trophy cabinet contains no championship medals—a testament to the ruthless meritocracy of knockout basketball.

Brazil's 154–97 victory over China in 1978 established the single-game scoring record that has withstood 45+ years of increasingly athletic competition. This performance, achieved during the preliminary round in Manila, demonstrated the competitive gulf that existed in the tournament's earlier decades. The modern era's most dominant performances come from knockout matches—Germany's 113–111 victory over the USA in 2023 and Spain's 95–75 final victory over Argentina in 2019—where teams face maximum competitive pressure and opposition quality.

Global Reach and Commercial Significance

The FIBA World Cup broadcasts to over 200 territories, generating an estimated global audience exceeding 4 billion viewers across tournament matches. This reach positions the competition as the world's second-most watched international basketball event after the Olympic Games, with particular strength in European, Asian, and American markets. The 2023 tournament's location across Indonesia, Japan, and the Philippines strategically targeted Asia's burgeoning basketball audiences, with the Philippines' passionate fan base providing an electric atmosphere that elevated the championship final to global sporting significance.

Broadcasting rights deals have evolved substantially, with modern tournaments commanding premium valuations from international media networks. The tournament's four-year cycle creates predictable scheduling for broadcasters, enabling long-term planning and investment in production quality. FIBA's strategic partnerships with technology companies and digital platforms have expanded accessibility, allowing younger demographics to engage with the tournament through streaming services and social media integration. The 2023 tournament demonstrated record digital engagement, with millions of followers tracking statistics, highlights, and player performances across FIBA's digital ecosystem.

Qualification Pathways and Continental Representation

Qualification for the FIBA World Cup involves continental qualifying tournaments held approximately 18 months before the championship. The distribution of berths reflects FIBA's commitment to global representation: Europe receives 6 spots, the Americas 5, Asia 3, Africa 3, and Oceania 1, with the remaining slots allocated to host nations and FIBA's discretionary wildcard selections. This structure ensures competitive balance while maintaining geographic diversity, though traditional powerhouses from Europe and the Americas consistently occupy the majority of spots.

The qualification process has become increasingly competitive, with emerging nations like Greece, Italy, and Canada challenging traditional hierarchies. African nations have demonstrated steady improvement, with recent tournaments featuring representatives from Nigeria, Senegal, and Cameroon competing at elevated levels. Asian basketball's development is evidenced by strong performances from China (tournament hosts in 2019), Japan, and the Philippines, though these nations have not yet reached medal contention. The qualification system's transparency and merit-based structure ensure that only the strongest teams reach the World Cup, maintaining championship prestige across all 32 participating nations.

Future Outlook and Competitive Trends

The 2027 FIBA World Cup will be hosted in Qatar, marking the first World Cup in the Middle East and reflecting FIBA's strategic expansion into emerging markets. This location choice signals confidence in basketball's growth trajectory across the Gulf region, where investment in sports infrastructure has accelerated substantially. The tournament will feature the established 32-team format, with qualification windows beginning in late 2025. The competitive landscape heading toward 2027 suggests continued European strength, with Germany seeking to defend their title, Spain and France pursuing additional championships, and traditional powers like the USA seeking redemption.

Germany's 2023 victory has fundamentally altered perceptions of basketball's global hierarchy. The German team's success—built on NBA talent (Dennis Schröder), Euroleague excellence (Franz Wagner), and collective cohesion—demonstrated that championship success derives from systematic player development, sophisticated coaching, and team chemistry rather than individual superstardom alone. This blueprint has influenced how national programs approach preparation, with increased emphasis on continuity, positional flexibility, and defensive intensity. The next World Cup will reveal whether Germany's triumph represents a sustained shift in power or a singular achievement, with Spain, France, and the USA positioned to challenge for supremacy in Qatar.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many teams compete in the FIBA World Cup?

The FIBA World Cup features 32 national teams divided into eight groups of four teams each, a format adopted in 2019 to expand the tournament and provide more competitive opportunities.

How often is the FIBA World Cup held?

The tournament is held every four years, with the schedule aligned to the Olympic cycle. The most recent edition took place in 2023, with the next scheduled for 2027 in Qatar.

Who has won the most FIBA World Cup titles?

The United States has won the most titles with 5 championships (1954, 1986, 1994, 2010, 2014). Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union each won 5 titles combined before their dissolutions.

What is the FIBA World Cup tournament format?

Teams are divided into eight groups of four, playing round-robin matches. The top two teams from each group advance to a 16-team knockout stage with quarter-finals, semi-finals, and a final.

Has any team won the FIBA World Cup undefeated?

Yes. Germany won the 2023 FIBA World Cup undefeated, winning all their matches including the final against Serbia 83–77, marking the first undefeated championship run in the tournament's modern era.

Which player has scored the most points in FIBA World Cup history?

Brazil's Oscar Schmidt holds the all-time scoring record with 843 points across four World Cups (1978–1990), an average of 24 points per game across 35 appearances.

API data: 26 Apr 2026 · Content updated: 10 Apr 2025