The 2019 FIBA World Cup has officially concluded as Spain beat Argentina to take home the gold. France won over Australia on Sunday as well to earn bronze, while Serbia defeated the Czech Republic to earn fifth place. Rounding out the top eight was Team USA in seventh place and Poland in eighth.
The results were not nearly what the world expected. Team USA and Serbia were considered heavy favorites coming into the tournament, yet neither even reached the semifinals. Argentina, meanwhile, went on a Cinderella run to the gold medal game despite most of its best players having recently retired. These teams will all have another shot against one another at next summer’s Olympics, but for now, Spain and Argentina stand atop the basketball world.
This year, the tournament took place in China, which meant that games were played at unusual hours for American viewers. So for the sake of clarity, let’s dive into how the tournament worked, when the games were played, and what the results mean for these teams moving forward.
Teams that qualified for 2020 Olympics through FIBA World Cup
A total of 12 teams will participate in the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Japan is automatically qualified for the Summer Olympics as the host nation, and seven of those 11 remaining spots were filled at 2019 FIBA World Cup.
- FIBA Europe: Spain and France (Two best-ranked teams from the region)
- FIBA Americas: United States and Argentina (Two best-ranked teams from the region)
- FIBA Africa: Nigeria (Best-ranked team from the region)
- FIBA Asia: Iran (Best-ranked team from the region)
- FIBA Oceania: Australia (Best-ranked team from the region)
Four tickets still need to be punched for Tokyo 2020
Only four spots remain available after the World Cup. Those spots will be given to four out of 24 teams that participate in four separate wild card-qualifying tournaments. The teams compromising those tournaments will be the top 16 remaining teams by FIBA ranking as well as two select teams from each FIBA region, excluding FIBA Oceania (which consists of only two teams to begin with).
Among the most notable teams who will need to earn their place at the Olympics this way are Serbia, Canada, Lithuania, Greece, Russia, Italy, Croatia and Brazil. Serbia, the 2016 Olympic silver medalist and No. 4 ranked team in the world by FIBA, should be viewed as a heavy favorite to reach the tournament. With a full roster, Canada would have the most NBA talent at the event, and Lithuania is currently ranked sixth in the world, so it should be in good shape as well. Otherwise, the tournament will be a free-for-all with a number of qualified teams battling for Olympic bids.
Gold-medal game
Sunday, Sept. 15
Bronze-medal game
Sunday, Sept. 15
Semifinals
Friday, Sept. 13
- Spain 95, Australia 88
- Argentina 80, France 66
Consolation games
Thursday, Sept. 12
- Serbia 94, United States 89
- Czech Republic 94, Poland 84
Saturday, Sept. 14
- Team USA 87, Poland 74
- Serbia 90, Czech Republic 81
Quarterfinals
Tuesday, Sept. 10
- Argentina 97, Serbia 87
- Spain 90, Poland 78
Wednesday, Sept. 11
- France 89, Team USA 79
- Australia 82, Czech Republic 70
Second-round results
The groups for the second group stage are determined by the results for the first round. The top two teams from Groups A and B share Group I, Groups C and D share group J, Groups E and F share group K and Groups G and H share Group L. Once the groupings have been determined, each team plays the two teams in their group that they have not yet faced once. The top two teams from each new group advance to the single-elimination knockout stage.
Group I standings and schedule
Argentina | 5 | 0 | 93 | 10 |
Poland | 4 | 1 | 10 | 9 |
Russia | 3 | 2 | 15 | 8 |
Venezuela | 2 | 3 | -11 | 7 |
(All times are U.S./Eastern)
Friday, Sept. 6
Argentina 87, Venezuela 67
Poland 79, Russia 74
Sunday, Sept. 8
Argentina 91, Poland 65
Russia 69, Venezuela 60
Group J standings and schedule
Spain | 5 | 0 | 76 | 10 |
Serbia | 4 | 1 | 151 | 9 |
Italy | 3 | 2 | 60 | 8 |
Puerto Rico | 2 | 2 | -53 | 7 |
(All times are U.S./Eastern)
Friday, Sept. 6
Serbia 90, Puerto Rico 47
Spain 67, Italy 60
Sunday, Sept. 8
Italy 94, Puerto Rico 89
Spain 81, Serbia 69
Group K standings and schedule
USA | 5 | 0 | 91 | 10 |
Czech Republic | 3 | 2 | 22 | 8 |
Greece | 3 | 2 | 21 | 8 |
| Brazil | 3 | 2 | -18 | 8 |
(All times are U.S./Eastern)
Saturday, Sept. 7
Czech Republic 93, Brazil 71
USA 69, Greece 53
Monday, Sept. 9
Greece 84, Czech Republic 77
USA 89, Brazil 73
Group L standings and schedule
Australia | 5 | 0 | 42 | 10 |
France | 4 | 1 | 78 | 9 |
Lithuania | 3 | 2 | 88 | 8 |
Dominican Republic | 2 | 3 | -53 | 7 |
(All times are U.S./Eastern)
Saturday, Sept. 7
France 78, Lithuania 75
Australia 82, Dominican Republic 76
Monday, Sept. 9
Australia 100, France 98
Lithuania 74, Dominican Republic 55
First-round results
The tournament began with 32 teams divided into eight groups. Each team within each group played each other once. The top two teams from each group advanced into the second group stage. If multiple teams finish tied with identical records, then the first tiebreaker is their head-to-head record against one another in the tournament, and if that doesn’t settle the tie, then point differential against one another, followed by overall point differential, are used next.
Group A standings and schedule
Poland | 3 | 0 | 31 | 6 |
China | 1 | 2 | -1 | 4 |
Venezuela | 2 | 1 | 18 | 5 |
Ivory Coast | 0 | 3 | -48 | 3 |
(All times are U.S./Eastern)
Saturday, Aug. 31
Poland 80, Venezuela 69
China 70, Ivory Coast 55
Monday, Sept. 2
Venezuela 87, Ivory Coast 71
Poland 79, China 76
Wednesday, Sept. 4
Poland 80, Ivory Coast 63
Venezuela 72, China 59
Group B standings and schedule
Argentina | 3 | 0 | 47 | 6 |
Russia | 2 | 1 | 11 | 5 |
Nigeria | 1 | 2 | 24 | 4 |
South Korea | 0 | 3 | -82 | 3 |
(All times are U.S./Eastern)
Saturday, Aug. 31
Russia 82, Nigeria 77
Argentina 95, South Korea 69
Monday, Sept. 2
Argentina 94, Nigeria 81
Russia 87, South Korea 73
Wednesday, Sept. 4
Nigeria 108, South Korea 66
Argentina 69, Russia 61
Group C standings and schedule
Spain | 3 | 0 | 57 | 6 |
Puerto Rico | 2 | 1 | -5 | 5 |
Tunisia | 1 | 2 | -30 | 4 |
Iran | 0 | 3 | -22 | 3 |
(All times are U.S./Eastern)
Saturday, Aug. 31
Puerto Rico 83, Iran 81
Spain 101, Tunisia 62
Monday, Sept. 2
Tunisia 79, Iran 67
Spain 73, Puerto Rico 63
Wednesday, Sept. 4
Puerto Rico 67, Tunisia 64
Spain 73, Iran 65
Group D standings and schedule
Serbia | 3 | 0 | 120 | 6 |
Italy | 2 | 1 | 62 | 5 |
Angola | 1 | 2 | -74 | 4 |
Philippines | 0 | 3 | -108 | 3 |
(All times are U.S./Eastern)
Saturday, Aug. 31
Serbia 105, Angola 59
Italy 108, Philippines 62
Monday, Sept. 2
Italy 92, Angola 61
Serbia 126, Philippines 67
Wednesday, Sept. 4
Angola 84, Philippines 81
Serbia 92, Italy 77
Group E standings and schedule
United States | 3 | 0 | 75 | 6 |
Czech Republic | 2 | 1 | 7 | 5 |
Turkey | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
Japan | 0 | 2 | -85 | 3 |
(All times are U.S./Eastern)
Sunday, Sept. 1
Turkey 86, Japan 67
United States 88, Czech Republic 67
Tuesday, Sept. 3
Czech Republic 89, Japan 76
United States 93, Turkey 92 (OT)
Thursday, Sept. 5
Czech Republic 91, Turkey 73
United States 98, Japan 45
Group F standings and schedule
Brazil | 3 | 0 | 20 | 6 |
Greece | 2 | 1 | 30 | 5 |
New Zealand | 1 | 2 | -4 | 4 |
Montenegro | 0 | 3 | -46 | 3 |
(All times are U.S./Eastern)
Sunday, Sept. 1
Brazil 102, New Zealand 94
Greece 85, Montenegro, 60
Tuesday, Sept. 3
New Zealand 93, Montenegro 83
Brazil 79, Greece 78
Thursday, Sept. 5
Brazil 84, Montenegro 73
Greece 103, New Zealand 97
Group G standings and schedule
France | 3 | 0 | 77 | 6 |
Dominican Republic | 2 | 1 | -28 | 5 |
Germany | 1 | 2 | 28 | 4 |
Jordan | 0 | 3 | -77 | 3 |
(All times are U.S./Eastern)
Sunday, Sept. 1
Dominican Republic 80, Jordan 76
France 78, Germany 74
Tuesday, Sept. 3
Dominican Republic 70, Germany 68
France 103, Jordan 64
Thursday, Sept. 5
Germany 96, Jordan 62
France 90, Dominican Republic 56
Group H standings and schedule
Australia | 3 | 0 | 34 | 6 |
Lithuania | 2 | 1 | 72 | 5 |
Canada | 1 | 2 | -17 | 4 |
Senegal | 0 | 3 | -89 | 3 |
(All times are U.S./Eastern)
Sunday, Sept. 1
Australia 108, Canada 92
Lithuania 101, Senegal 47
Tuesday, Sept. 3
Australia 81, Senegal 68
Lithuania 92, Canada 69
Thursday, Sept. 5
Canada 82, Senegal 60
Australia 87, Lithuania 82