Spain start World Cup defence against Brazil and Iran, US draw Greece

Spain start World Cup defence against Brazil and Iran, US draw Greece

Sports

The tournament will run from Aug 25 to Sept 10 and feature 32 teams

Manila (Reuters) - Defending champions Spain will face Brazil in the group stage of the 2023 FIBA World Cup while five-times winners United States will take on Greece, after the draw was held in Manila on Saturday.

The tournament, which runs from Aug. 25 to Sept. 10 and features 32 teams, will be co-hosted by the Philippines, Indonesia and Japan.

Spain, who are the top-ranked side in the world and seeking a third title, will also face Iran and Ivory Coast in Group G.
The United States, ranked second in the world, were also drawn to face Jordan and New Zealand.

As well as winning the tournament five times the U.S. are 12-times podium finishers -- both World Cup records -- but were eliminated in the quarter-finals in 2019 when they were chasing a third straight title.

Argentina, were finalists in 2019 and ranked fourth in the world, failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in 41 years.

FIBA WORLD CUP DRAW
GROUP A (MANILA)

Angola

Dominican Republic

Philippines

Italy

GROUP B (MANILA)

South Sudan

Serbia

China

Puerto Rico

GROUP C (MANILA)

United States

Jordan

Greece

New Zealand

GROUP D (MANILA)

Egypt

Mexico

Montenegro

Lithuania

GROUP E (OKINAWA)

Germany

Finland

Australia

Japan

GROUP F (OKINAWA)

Slovenia

Cape Verde

Georgia

Venezuela

GROUP G (JAKARTA)

Iran

Spain

Ivory Coast

Brazil

GROUP H (JAKARTA)

Canada

Latvia

Lebanon

France