FIBA World Cup 2023 Betting | Best Basketball Odds

Bonding over the universal love of basketball on the international stage, fans can look forward to the FIBA World Cup 2023, which begins on August 25. For the first time, the FIBA World Cup 2023 will be held in three host countries: Philippines, Indonesia, and Japan.

Beyond the bounce of the ball on the court, the squeak of shoes, and the courtside action lies another arena where in-depth analysis and informed decisions can lead to potential gains.

Betting on the FIBA World Cup means understanding the nuances of the sport, the teams, players, and betting markets; all of which are essential to making educated bets and raking in cash. Read on as we dive into FIBA World Cup betting, including the international competition history, the entire tournament format, the schedule, and our favorite teams to take home the gold medal.

FIBA World Cup: History

The FIBA World Cup, or the Basketball World Cup, is a basketball tournament organized by the FIBA, where international games are played every four years.

The first FIBA Basketball World Cup took place in 1950 in Argentina. Only ten teams took part as Argentina emerged as the inaugural champions. Fast forward to the 1992 FIBA World Cup, which marked a historic moment with the formation of the United States' Dream Team, made of NBA legends like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird.

Since its creation in 1950, there have been six winners of the FIBA World Cup, with Spain being the most recent winner in 2019 and Argentina being the runners-up. Will 2023 be the year a new nation etches its name in the Hall of Fame? Only time will tell!

FIBA World Cup 2023: Format

The 2023 FIBA World Cup begins with the Group Stage, from August 25 to August 30. There will be eight groups made up of four teams each. These are lettered from A to H. Every team will play against the other three teams in their group.

The top two teams from each group qualify for the second round. The bottom two teams from each group play in the Classification Rounds for places 17-32.

Moving on to the second phase, 16 games will be played in total as the remaining teams are divided into four groups. The top two teams from each group qualify for the Quarter-Finals, while the bottom two teams from each group are eliminated.

The final round begins on September 5 and ends on September 10 with the grand final, with the remaining eight teams competing for the gold medal and an invitation to the 2024 Olympics! 

FIBA World Cup 2023: Teams and Groups

Thirty-two of the world's best basketball teams will jet off to participate in this year's FIBA Basketball World Cup. Five teams from Africa, seven from the Americas, twelve from Europe, and eight from Asia/Oceanic make for an exciting tournament.

Below, you'll find how the teams are divided up for the first stage of the FIBA World Cup 2023.

• Group A: Angola, Dominican Republic, Italy, Philippines
• Group B: China, Puerto Rico, Serbia, South Sudan
• Group C: Greece, Jordan, New Zealand, USA
• Group D: Egypt, Lithuania, Mexico, Montenegro
• Group E: Australia, Finland, Germany, Japan
• Group F: Cape Verde, Georgia, Slovenia, Venezuela
• Group G: Brazil, Cote d'ivoire, Iran, Spain
• Group H: Canada, France, Latvia, Lebanon

Here is how the second round will look. There will be four teams lettered I-L.

• Group I: Group A winner, Group A runner-up, Group B winner, Group B runner-up
• Group J: Group C winner, Group C runner-up, Group D winner, Group D runner-up
• Group K: Group E winner, Group E runner-up, Group F winner, Group F runner-up
• Group L: Group G winner, Group G runner-up, Group H winner, Group H runner-up

FIBA World Cup 2023: Schedule

Below you'll find the schedule for the first round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup. All times below are in BST. Check out our dedicated FIBA World Cup 2023 overview for more details.

August 25

• 9:00 AM: Angola v Italy
• 9:00 AM: Finland v Australia
• 9:45 AM: Mexico v Montenegro
• 10:15 AM: Latvia v Lebanon
• 1:00 PM: Dominican Republic v Philippines
• 1:10 PM: Japan v Germany
• 1:30 PM: Egypt v Lithuania
• 2:30 PM: France v Canada

August 26

• 9:00 AM - South Sudan v Puerto Rico
• 9:00 AM - Cape Verde v Georgia
• 9:45 AM - Jordan v Greece
• 10:45 AM - Iran v Brazil
• 12:30 PM - Slovenia v Venezuela
• 1:00 PM - Serbia v China
• 1:40 PM - New Zealand v Team USA
• 1:30 PM - Spain v Cote d'ivoire

August 27

• 9:00 AM - Italy v Dominican Republic
• 9:30 AM - Australia v Germany
• 9:45 AM - Montenegro v Egypt
• 10:45 AM - Lebanon v Canada
• 1:00 PM - Philippines v Angola
• 1:10 AM - Japan v Finland
• 1:30 PM - Lithuania v Mexico
• 2:30 PM - Latvia v France

August 28

• 9:00 AM - China v South Sudan
• 9:00 AM - Venezuela v Cape Verde
• 9:45 AM - Jordan v New Zealand
• 10:45 AM - Cote d'ivoire v Iran
• 12:30 PM - Georgia v Slovenia
• 1:00 PM - Puerto Rica v Serbia
• 1:40 PM - Greece v USA
• 2:30 PM - Spain v Brazil

August 29

• 8:30 AM - Germany v Finland
• 9:00 AM - Angola v Dominican Republic
• 9:45 AM - Egypt v Mexico
• 10:45 AM - France v Lebanon
• 12:10 PM - Australia v Japan
• 1:00 PM - Philippines v Italy
• 1:30 PM - Lithuania v Montenegro
• 2:30 PM - Latvia v Canada

August 30

• 9:00 AM - Serbia v South Sudan
• 9:00 AM - Georgia v Venezuela
• 9:40 AM - USA v Jordan
• 10:45 AM - Brazil v Cote d'ivoire
• 12:30 PM - Slovenia v Cape Verde
• 1:00 PM - China v Puerto Rica
• 1:40 PM - Greece v New Zealand
• 2:30 PM - Spain v Iran

September 1

• 9:00 AM: Italy v Serbia
• 9:30 AM: Germany v Georgia
• 9:40 AM: USA v Montenegro
• 10:45 AM: Latvia v Spain
• 1:00 PM: Dominican Republic v Puerto Rico
• 1:10 PM: Australia v Slovenia
• 1:40 PM: Lithuania v Greece
• 2:30 PM: Canada v Brazil

September 3

• 8:30 AM: Georgia v Australia
• 9:00 AM: Italy v Puerto Rico
• 9:40 AM: Greece v Montenegro
• 10:45 AM: Brazil v Latvia
• 12:10 PM: Slovenia v Germany
• 1:00 PM: Serbia v Dominican Republic
• 1:40 PM: Lithuania v USA
• 2:30 PM: Spain v Canada

September 5

• 9:45 AM: Lithuania v Serbia
• 1:40 PM: Italy v USA

September 6

• 9:45 AM: Germany v Latvia
• 1:30 PM: Slovenia v Canada

September 8

• 9:45 AM: Serbia v Canada
• 1:40 PM: USA v Germany

September 10

• 9:30 AM: USA v Canada (3rd place)
• 1:40 PM: Germany v Serbia

FIBA World Cup 2023: Favorite Teams

While some surprising teams are trailing on the odds board, like the Canada basketball team, Australia, and the Philippines, three teams are coming in as the current favorites to make it to the final.

USA

Team USA is one of the most successful FIBA World Cup teams, tied with Yugoslavia for the most FIBA World Cup wins with five each. Team USA have won the FIBA World Cup in 1954, 1986, 1994, 2010, and 2014. The USA's national team is also looking to reinstate themselves as the global hoop masters after their disappointing performance at the last FIBA World Cup in 2019.

Spain

Reigning world champions, Spain will be looking to hold onto their crown and defend their 2019 FIBA World Cup title during international play. Their team is full of top basketball talent to (hopefully) continue their win streak.

Germany

Germany is an underdog with tons of potential coming into the 2023 FIBA World Cup. Led by star NBA players like Dennis Schroder, Daniel Theis, and brothers Franz and Mortiz Wagner, they have a cohesive blend of talent, familiarity, and strength that should easily carry them to the final stage.

Bet on the FIBA World Cup 2023 with Rivalry!

Esports betting isn't all we're known for! Engaging in the thrill of classic sports, Rivalry is proud to offer elite betting coverage for the FIBA World Cup. We have everything from the best FIBA World Cup odds around to different betting markets for basketball lovers to engage in!

To show our die-hard appreciation, we offer all of our customers the following: 

Welcome Bonuses.

When you first make an account with Rivalry, you'll immediately be greeted by a generous welcome bonus you can use to place your first best with us. Keep an eye on the promotions page for more sweet offers!

Rivalry Academy

Are you new to sports betting and need help knowing where to start or how to read our odds? Our learning resource, Rivalry Academy, is here to help! Designed to help bettors from all experience levels, it covers everything from budgeting your bankroll to figuring out profitable bets.

Other betting options

If the 2023 FIBA World Cup differs from your idea of a fun time, we offer other traditional sports options like football and baseball! If you're more of a Gen-Z kind of person, we also provide betting coverage on professional esports tournaments like CS:GO and DOTA 2!

Rivalry has something for everyone, so you can start sprinkling that Rivalry hot sauce on the sports you enjoy watching for that extra spice.

FIBA World Cup Betting Tips

When picking a FIBA World Cup team to bet on, there are several factors you should consider.

Bet Prior

It's always best to place your bets before the competition even starts, as some betting odds tend to drop as international play unfolds. You want to maximize your chances of winning big and making those gains!

Current Form/Circumstances

When analyzing basketball teams and their players, you should always consider the form of the team/player you want to back. This is especially important when betting on the FIBA World Cup, where individual players can be the MVP or the reason their team are struggling.

Previous Results

Have any of the players had an injury or a hefty loss streak? Before betting on any FIBA World Cup teams, research their previous results, performances, total points, and other deciding factors. You could find a potential underdog no one else has considered!

FAQs about FIBA World Cup betting

Is betting on the FIBA World Cup legal?

Rivalry is an online sports bookmaker that fully works per the law. We have an internationally recognized certificate granted by the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission, so you can place bets with complete peace of mind.

Who will host the 2023 FIBA World Cup?

The 19th edition of the FIBA Basketball World Cup will be hosted across three nations: the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia.

Where can I watch FIBA World Cup matches?

FIBA World Cup live streams will be available on ESPN and ESPN+.

Who won the last FIBA World Cup?

The defending FIBA Basketball World Cup champions are Spain, who won against Argentina in the 2019 FIBA World Cup.

How can I deposit?

Rivalry offers a wide range of depositing options to accommodate our users, some of which are instant: MasterCard, Visa, Skrill, Alipay, and tons more. Remember, your first bet with us is free as part of our welcome bonus.

Can I place FIBA World Cup bets on my smartphone?

Of course. The Rivalry website is completely mobile-friendly, with easy UI to use while you're on the go. We even have an iOS app for Ontario users - search for "Rivalry - Esports Betting" and hit download. Happy betting!