Lead-up to FIBA 2023: Teams’ Preparation Games Schedule

As the excitement builds for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, the teams are focusing their sights on the warm-up matches ahead. These preparation games give teams an invaluable opportunity to iron out their strategies, fine-tune their tactics, and acclimate to the rigors of competitive play before the main tournament.

We present to you the pre-tournament matches lineup of the main contenders, including Team USA, Canada, Slovenia, France, Spain, among others.

Slovenia’s Route to FIBA 2023

Slovenia, spearheaded by the charismatic Luka Doncic, has set the ball rolling with 7 friendly games leading up to the FIBA World Cup 2023, as per an announcement from the Slovenian Basketball Federation (KZS).

The KZS has scheduled Slovenia’s last friendly game against Japan, in Tokyo on August 19, before the competition commences.

Apart from Japan, Slovenia will face off against basketball giants such as Team USA, Greece, Spain, and Croatia.

During the World Cup, Slovenia is placed in Group F, and will compete against Cape Verde, Georgia, and Venezuela in Okinawa, Japan. If Slovenia progresses to the second stage, it will encounter teams from Group E, which include Germany, Finland, Australia, and Japan.

Here is a glance at their warm-up match schedule:

Greece’s Road to FIBA 2023

Greece will have six warm-up games ahead of FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, playing against Slovenia twice, along with Serbia, Italy, Team USA, and Germany.

Greece will start its World Cup preparation with a couple of games against Luka Doncic’s Slovenia.

The Greek team will also face formidable opponents like Team USA, Serbia, Italy, and Germany.

In the World Cup, Greece is grouped in Group C and will compete against Team USA, Jordan, and New Zealand in Manila, Philippines. If Greece manages to move to the Second Round, it will face off against teams from Group D, which include Montenegro, Egypt, Mexico, and Lithuania.

Here is Greece’s pre-tournament match schedule:

Serbia’s Preparatory Games

Serbia is planning five preparatory games against Greece, Italy, Puerto Rico, China, and Brazil.

The Serbian national team will commence their World Cup preparation by participating in the Acropolis Tournament in Athens, where they will compete against Greece and Italy.

After the tournament, the team will return to Serbia to play a single game against Puerto Rico in the Stark Arena on August 16th. Their preparation will conclude with two games in Shenzhen, China against China and Brazil.

Serbia’s pre-tournament match schedule is as follows:

Spain’s Journey to FIBA 2023

Spain will compete in five warm-up games from August 4th to August 19th, against formidable teams such as Team USA, Slovenia, and Canada.

The selection of the final team roster, which will be based on the players’ performance in the training camps and matches, is expected to be announced by late July.

The Spanish team is also focusing on injury management, with a dedicated medical team in place to handle player injuries and ensure swift recovery.

In the week leading up to the tournament, they will be conducting a final training camp to fine-tune their strategies and prepare for the upcoming competition.

Their detailed preparation plan underlines Spain’s commitment to showcasing their best performance in the World Cup.

Below is Spain’s pre-tournament match schedule:

France’s Route to FIBA 2023

The French national basketball team is set to make a strong showing in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, kicking off their training with seven preparatory games. France, one of the tournament favorites, will start its training camp on July 28, a few days ahead of their first exhibition game against Tunisia on July 31.

The French squad will be missing a crucial player, Victor Wembanyama, who has already been ruled out of the upcoming tournament. Despite this setback, the French are still expected to put up a strong performance.

As a culmination to their rigorous training, the French team will face Japan and Australia in Tokyo on August 17 and August 20, respectively. These final games should provide the team with the necessary preparation they need to tackle the challenges of the World Cup.

Once in the tournament proper, France will compete in Group H, going head-to-head against Canada, Latvia, and Lebanon. Upon successful advancement to the Second Round, they will be up against the teams from Group G, which include Iran, Spain, and Ivory Coast.

Here’s the pre-tournament match schedule for France:

Italy’s Warm-up Matches

Italy’s national basketball team is gearing up to give their best in the upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023. To this end, they have lined up seven preparation games, ensuring they face a variety of competitive teams.

Starting their training camp on July 24, Italy will pit their skills against several basketball powerhouses like Greece, Serbia, and Turkey. As their preparation period winds up, they will face Brazil and New Zealand on August 20 and August 21 respectively, in China.

In the World Cup, Italy is set to compete in Group A, facing Angola, the Dominican Republic, and the host nation, the Philippines. If they advance to the Second Round, they will encounter teams from Group B, including South Sudan, Serbia, China, and Puerto Rico.

The Italian team is keeping a close eye on the situation with the young Orlando Magic player, Paolo Banchero. The 20-year-old’s commitment to Italy is still uncertain as Team USA has also been recruiting him.

The following is Italy’s pre-tournament match schedule:

Lithuania’s Road to FIBA 2023

As the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 approaches, Lithuania’s national basketball team has unveiled a comprehensive ten-game preparation schedule. With a primary aim to polish their gameplay and strategies, Lithuania is leaving no stone unturned before the high-stakes tournament.

The Lithuanian team will, however, miss some key players in the FIBA World Cup 2023. Marius Grigonis, Rokas Giedraitis, Lukas Lekavicius, and Edgaras Ulanovas are confirmed to be absent from the squad this summer.

In the World Cup, Lithuania will be competing in Group D against Egypt, Montenegro, and Mexico. Should they proceed to the Second Round, they might face formidable teams from the United States and Greece.

Lithuania’s pre-tournament match schedule is as follows:

Australia’s Warm-up Matches

Lastly, Australia will be playing five exhibition games from August 14th to August 22nd in the run-up to the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

These preparation games not only provide an opportunity for teams to test their mettle against different styles of play, but they also serve as a precursor to the feverish excitement that the FIBA Basketball World Cup promises. Let the games begin!