The FIBA Basketball World Cup is an international basketball competition between the senior men's national teams of the members of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the sport's global governing body. It takes place every four years and is considered the flagship event of FIBA.

From its inception in 1950 until 2010, the tournament was known as the FIBA World Championship.

The tournament structure is similar, but not identical, to that of the FIFA World Cup; the current format of the tournament involves 32 teams competing for the title at venues within the host nation. The FIBA Basketball World Cup and the FIFA World Cup were played in the same year as each other from 1970 through 2014. A parallel event for women's teams, now known as the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup, is also held quadrennially. From 1986 through 2014, the men's and women's championships were held in the same year, though in different countries. Following the 2014 FIBA championships for men and women, the men's World Cup was scheduled on a new four-year cycle to avoid conflict with the FIFA World Cup. The men's World Cup was held in 2019, in the year following the FIFA World Cup. The women's championship, which was renamed from "FIBA World Championship for Women" to "FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup" after its 2014 edition, will remain on the previous four-year cycle, with championships in the same year as the FIFA World Cup.

The winning team receives the Naismith Trophy, first awarded in 1967. The current champion is Germany, which defeated Serbia in the final of the 2023 tournament.

The 1994 FIBA World Championship, which was held in Canada, was the first FIBA World Cup tournament in which currently active US NBA players that had already played in an official NBA regular season game were allowed to participate. All FIBA World Championship/World Cup tournaments since then are thus considered fully professional level tournaments.

History

World map depicting the number of times a country has hosted the World Cup. Dark blue: twice; light blue: once.

The FIBA Basketball World Cup was conceived at a meeting of the FIBA World Congress at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London. Long-time FIBA Secretary-General Renato William Jones urged FIBA to adopt a World Championship, similar to the FIFA World Cup, to be held in every four years between Olympiads. The FIBA Congress, seeing how successful the 23-team Olympic tournament was that year, agreed to the proposal, beginning with a tournament in 1950. Argentina was selected as host, largely because it was the only country willing to take on the task. Argentina took advantage of the host selection, winning all their games en route to becoming the first FIBA World Champion.

The first five tournaments were held in South America, and teams from the Americas dominated the tournament, winning eight of nine medals at the first three tournaments. By 1963, however, teams from Eastern Europe and Southeast Europe — the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia, in particular — began to catch up to the teams from the American continents. Between 1963 and 1990, the tournament was dominated by the United States, the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, and Brazil, which together accounted for every medal at the tournament.

The 1994 FIBA World Championship held in Toronto marked the beginning of a new era, as currently active American NBA players participated in the tournament for the first time (prior to that only European and South American professionals were allowed to participate as they were still classified as amateurs), while the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia split into many new states. The United States dominated that year and won gold, while former states of the USSR and Yugoslavia, Russia and Croatia, won silver and bronze. The 1998 FIBA World Championship, held in Greece (Athens and Piraeus), lost some of its luster when the 1998–99 NBA lockout prevented NBA players from participating. The new Yugoslavian team, now consisting of the former Yugoslav republics of Serbia and Montenegro, won the gold medal over Russia, while the USA, with professional basketball players playing in Europe and two college players, finished third.

In 2002, other nations caught up to the four powerhouse countries and their successor states. FR Yugoslavia, led by Peja Stojaković of the Sacramento Kings and Dejan Bodiroga of FC Barcelona, won the final game against Argentina, while Dirk Nowitzki, who was the tournament's MVP, led Germany to the bronze, its first ever World Championship medal. Meanwhile, the United States team, this time made up of NBA players, struggled to a sixth-place finish. This new era of parity convinced FIBA to expand the tournament to 24 teams for the 2006, 2010, and 2014 editions of the tournament.

In 2006, emerging powerhouse Spain beat Greece in the first appearance in the final for both teams. Spain became only the seventh team (Yugoslavia and FR Yugoslavia are counted separately in the FIBA records) to capture a World Championship gold. The USA, which lost to Greece in a semi-final, won against Argentina in the third-place match and claimed bronze.

In the 2010 FIBA World Championship final, the USA defeated Turkey and won gold for the first time in 16 years, while Lithuania beat Serbia and won bronze. The next time around, the United States became the third country to defend the championship, winning against Serbia at the 2014 edition of the tournament. France beat Lithuania in the bronze medal game.

After the 2014 edition, FIBA instituted significant changes to the World Cup. The final competition was expanded from 24 to 32 teams. Also, for the first time since 1967, the competition would no longer overlap with the FIFA World Cup. To accommodate this change, the 2014 FIBA World Cup was followed by a 2019 edition in China, followed by a 2023 edition in the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia, and the 2027 tournament in Qatar, the first World Cup to be held in the Arab world.

Total times teams hosted by confederation
Confederations and years italicized & in bold have an upcoming competition.
Confederation Total (Hosts) Years
FIBA Africa 0
FIBA Americas 10 1950, 1954, 1959, 1963, 1967, 1974, 1982, 1990, 1994, 2002
FIBA Asia 5 1978, 2006, 2019, 2023, 2027
FIBA Europe 5 1970, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2014
FIBA Oceania 0
The FIBA World Cup is an international basketball tournament that brings together the best national teams from around the world. Organized by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), this prestigious event showcases the highest level of basketball competition on a global scale.

Held every four years, the FIBA World Cup features teams from over 200 countries, making it one of the most diverse and inclusive sporting events in the world. The tournament serves as a platform for nations to showcase their basketball prowess and compete for the ultimate title of world champions.

The FIBA World Cup is a thrilling spectacle that captivates basketball fans worldwide. The tournament features intense matches filled with fast-paced action, incredible athleticism, and strategic gameplay. The participating teams battle it out on the court, displaying their skills, teamwork, and determination to secure victory.

The tournament format consists of multiple rounds, starting with a group stage where teams compete against each other in a round-robin format. The top teams from each group advance to the knockout stage, where the competition becomes even more intense. The knockout stage includes knockout rounds, quarterfinals, semifinals, and ultimately culminates in the highly anticipated championship game.

The FIBA World Cup not only showcases the talent of individual players but also highlights the unique basketball styles and cultures of different nations. It provides a platform for players to represent their countries and unite their fellow citizens through the love of the game.

The tournament attracts a global audience, with millions of fans tuning in to witness the excitement and drama unfold. It serves as a celebration of basketball, fostering a sense of camaraderie and sportsmanship among nations.

The FIBA World Cup has produced some of the most memorable moments in basketball history, with legendary players leaving their mark on the tournament. From buzzer-beating shots to incredible displays of skill, the tournament has provided countless unforgettable moments that have become part of basketball folklore.

In addition to the on-court action, the FIBA World Cup also serves as a platform for cultural exchange and international collaboration. It brings together fans, players, and officials from different backgrounds, fostering a sense of unity and friendship among nations.

Overall, the FIBA World Cup is a premier basketball tournament that showcases the best of the sport on a global stage. It combines thrilling competition, cultural diversity, and a shared love for basketball, making it a truly remarkable event that captivates fans worldwide.