The four remaining spots will be awarded at FIBA’s central board meeting Nov. 23-24 in Buenos Aires, and while there are plenty of viable candidates, the wild-card entries come with an expensive price tag: Each wild card must pay €500,000 ($674600) — no small fee, especially for national teams without a huge budget.
Sneaker companies want Andrew Wiggins in Spain 2014. So does FIBA. Fingers crossed
China is almost a guarantee. With nearly just as many people playing basketball in China as there are people in the USA, it makes sense for FIBA to bring China to Spain, and China is willing to pay the fee.
Canada is an option, too. As the country develops its young talent (Tristan Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Andrew Nicholson, Anthony Bennett, Kelly Olynyk among others) and becomes more competitive on the international scene, playing in the World Cup is important for Canada’s future. However, €500,000 – approximately $675,000 gives Canada reason to consider the value of that investment.
Brazil didn’t finish in the top four at FIBA Americas Championship and missed out on one of the automatic bids. As host of the 2016 Olympics, Brazil needs the experience if its wants to make a run at a medal on its home court in three years. The exposure is important, too.
There is no shortage of options in Europe, from Russia, which entered Eurobasket in turmoil (its coach quit a month before event began) and didn’t have its best players, to Greece to Turkey to Italy. Russia seems the most likely of those countries to pay big dollars for inclusion, and it won silver in London last summer.
Oddly, Nigeria, which finished a disappointing seventh at Afrobasket, is interested in playing in the World Cup. However, can it come up with the money, and does FIBA want a team which finished so low in Africa, playing in the World Cup? Nigeria played in the 2012 London Olympics and finished 10th with just one victory.
Either way, the USA, which won the 2010 world championship and gold medals at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, will enter as the favorite. The USA will learn its opponents for group play at the World Cup draw Feb. 8 in Barcelona.
FIBA World Cup 2014 held in Spain willl be August 30 – September 14.
Already in:
Americas (5): USA (defending Olympic gold medalist), Mexico (2013 FIBA Americas champion), Puerto Rico, Argentina, Dominican Republic.
Europe (7): Spain (host country), France (2013 Eurobasket champion), Lithuania, Croatia, Slovenia, Ukraine, Serbia.
Oceania (2): Australia (2013 FIBA Oceania champion), New Zealand.
Asia (3): Iran (2013 FIBA Asian champion), Philippines, South Korea.
Africa (3): Angola (2013 FIBA Africa champion), Egypt, Senegal.