How to bet on FIBA World Cup
International basketball betting has risen as a popular market because of the interconnectivity of the internet. In years gone by, those looking to watch international basketball on television would have to seek out ways and means to watch games.
However, thanks to YouTube and the incredible, meteoric rise of online gambling, the sport has flourished and taken advantage of this heightened visibility. The FIBA World Cup is the pinnacle of international basketball. It features the world’s best talents among 32 entrants lining up against each other every four years to bring home the trophy for their country.
How to bet on basketball World Cup
If you’re looking to place a bet on the FIBA World Cup, LeoVegas offers an extensive range of markets. You have an array of pre-game, in-play and outright markets at your disposal.
You can bet on the outcome of the tournament and how the final will shape up. Opening an account at LeoVegas is easy. Simply go to the home page, click join, use a bonus code if you have one, fill in a few basic details, and you’ll be able to deposit your fund within a few minutes.
Once your account is set up, there’s a drop-down menu where you can select deposit and withdrawal. It is here where you can use several different payment methods to deposit your funds, and you can withdraw in a similar fashion. As soon as you have money in your account, choose basketball and FIBA betting to explore all the markets on offer.
Popular types of FIBA World Cup bets
FIBA World Cup markets operate in the same way that NBA and European basketball leagues operate. This means a lot of the markets work as they would if you were betting during the regular club season.
The emergence of individual derivative markets has proven to be a hit in NBA betting, and FIBA World Cup betting markets anticipate there’ll be a similar level of activity through the course of the competition. Derivative markets include betting on a specific portion of the game, such as a quarter or half, or the highest individual point scorer in the game.
One of the most common markets is the moneyline bet, which is basically an outright bet on the team who will win the game. There’s also the more specialised, but still popular point spread betting, where you bet on the number of points the team will win that game by. This helps you to drill down into your bet and find some value if the team is an overwhelming favourite.
In a back-and-forth game like basketball, over/under bets grab the attention of many basketball fans. By placing a bet on total points, some bettors believe they’re getting more value for their bet over the course of the game, but that depends on how it develops.
Prominent FIBA World Cup betting markets and opportunities
As betting markets have evolved thanks to mobile betting and the widespread use of the internet, basketball betting has experienced more activity in outright markets. Many analysts have noted this has been a trend among a lot of sports, but with the FIBA World Cup considered the pinnacle of international basketball, it inevitably brings more interest to the sector.
Alongside the individual moneyline bets we discussed in the previous section, you can bet on dozens of in-play markets, which many bettors prefer as they can bet on their mobile devices while watching the game unfold. If you prefer to bet over a longer period, then exploring the outright markets, such as the team to win the tournament or the tournament’s best player, both have a lot of depth and scope.
World Cup betting promotions are a tried and tested way of bringing in new customers. LeoVegas has a range of sports betting bonuses you can sample, and like any other welcome bonus, they help you to get more mileage out of your bet.
FIBA World Cup format
Eighty teams start in the qualifiers, with 32 from Europe, 16 from Asia and Oceania, 16 from Africa and 16 from the Americas. Like many other sports, the host nations will receive an automatic qualification, meaning that 30 teams are vying for positions in the FIBA World Cup.
The nation that finishes at the top in each group qualifies for the World Cup. The round-robin format helps to create the main structure of the World Cup tournament and is a common way to ensure the best and most in-form teams qualify for the competition. Based on the seeding of each team, the 32 qualifying nations are drawn into eight groups of four. Similar to the qualification rounds, the group stages follow a round-robin format, and the teams that finish in the top two qualify for the knockout stages. The remaining two teams from each group participate in two games that establish their ranking.
Once the group stage has concluded, the remaining 16 teams are split into groups of four. Again, this also follows a simple round-robin format, the top two teams go into the final stages of the World Cup, and the teams who didn’t make the grade play it out to determine the rest of the top eight places.
Host countries and venues
The 2023 World Cup is the third consecutive FIBA World Cup that has taken place on the Asian continent. This year’s tournament is spread across three nations: Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines. In total, five venues are hosting the games, spread across five different cities:
- Okinawa Arena, Okinawa, Japan
- Indonesia Arena, Jakarta
- Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay
- Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City
- Philippine Arena, Bulacan
Due to the potential for extreme weather in the area, there are also several venues on standby in the event of poor conditions. However, the bulk of the action will likely be at these five venues. The Philippine Arena has a maximum capacity of 55,000, and tournament organisers aim to fill the arena for one or more World Cup games. If they’re able to pull this off, it will make the 2023 FIBA World Cup a record-breaking tournament, smashing through the previous attendance record.
Overview of host selection process
Once a country declares it is running as a potential host nation, they compile together their application and submit it as a bid. It is then up to the other nations involved in the high levels of professional sport to determine which country they believe has the best overall bid.
Notable host countries and their impact
Although the FIBA World Cup has made a huge impact globally, many fans believe the 2002 tournament in the United States was the most notable. Given that NBA players were only allowed to participate in the tournament less than a decade earlier, it legitimised the tournament in the eyes of many. With huge crowds coming out for each game, the 2002 FIBA World Cup was also a tournament that delivered on the court and for the fans at home, with some iconic plays and some of the world’s greatest athletes playing at the height of their powers.
Iconic venues that have hosted the FIBA World Cup
Japan, China, Turkey, Canada and the United States have all proved to be worthy hosts of the FIBA World Cup, with the top players playing in a range of famous world cities such as Toronto, Istanbul, Beijing and Indianapolis. Some of the finest modern stadiums in these cities played host to a wave of talent and games that fans will never forget.
History of the FIBA World Cup
The first FIBA World Cup took place 83 years ago. Argentina hosted the first games, and South American dominance permeated the sport as the World Cup remained in South America for the next 20 years. However, teams began to catch up, and by the time the 1994 World Cup came around and NBA players were allowed to play for the first time, the whole dynamic of the competition changed.
In 2014, in a bid to enhance viewing figures, it was decided to change the year, so it would not clash with the soccer World Cup. The 2019 World Cup was the first new tournament in this format, and it also featured 32 teams instead of 24, which was the previous format.
Once the NBA talent entered the fray in 1994, the number of people watching the FIBA World Cup globally expanded considerably. Previously, the tournament posted modest numbers, but the inclusion of NBA All-Stars made millions more casual basketball fans sit up and take notice. Some of the best players over the years have dazzled at the FIBA World Cup. Shaq in 1994, Kyrie Irving in 2014 and Ricky Rubio in the last World Cup put in career-best performances to wow viewers all over the world.
FIBA World Cup and NBA connection
It can’t be understated just how much the inclusion of NBA players changed the trajectory of the FIBA World Cup. Although it was growing in popularity as more people across the Western hemisphere gained access to television sets, the overall popularity experienced a meteoric rise when some of the biggest names in basketball participated. Figures show that over half a billion viewers tune in throughout the FIBA World Cup, which puts it on par with some of the biggest sporting events in the world — surpassing even the NFL Finals.
Although players from the NBA have dominated the FIBA World Cup since they were allowed to participate from 1994 onwards, this is to be expected. The NBA is by far the premier basketball competition and attracts the best talent worldwide, with staggering wages on offer for the world’s top players. Once these players could participate in the FIBA World Cup, it was inevitably going to propel the competition to another level.
FIBA World Cup FAQ’s
What is the FIBA World Cup?
The premier international basketball competition which determines the best international team.
When was the first FIBA World Cup held?
The first World Cup took place in 1950, and then every four years. Instead of the 2018 tournament, the World Cup took place in 2019.
How often does the FIBA World Cup take place?
The FIBA World Cup takes place every four years.
Which country has won the most FIBA World Cup titles?
The former Yugoslavia and the United States have won the most World Cups. Both nations have lifted the trophy on five occasions.
Are NBA players allowed to participate in the FIBA World Cup?
Yes, although this wasn’t always the case. The rule change came into effect 30 years ago for the 1994 FIBA World Cup.
How does the FIBA World Cup qualify teams for the Olympics?
The tournament decides the top 16 teams by seeding and ranking. They then qualify for the Olympics based on this standing.
What is the difference between the FIBA World Cup and the Olympic basketball tournament?
For some players, Olympic basketball is considered a more prestigious competition as the play is at a much higher standard. However, the only difference is the number of teams that participate in the final tournament.
How is the host country selected for the FIBA World Cup?
The host country is selected through an application process. Each country submits a bid and other countries vote for the one they believe has the best offer.
How long is the duration of the FIBA World Cup?
The FIBA World Cup takes place over a relatively short period of 16 days.
Who are the favourites for the 2023 FIBA World Cup?
Since NBA players were allowed into the tournament in 1994, the USA has gone into each competition as the bookmaker’s favourite, and it is the same again this year.
Where is the FIBA World Cup 2023?
In 2023, the FIBA World Cup will be hosted across three countries: the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia.
Who will host FIBA World Cup 2026?
The host nation in 2026 is Qatar.
Which teams will qualify for 2026 World Cup?
The format of the 2026 World Cup will include the top 32 teams in qualifying.
How many teams qualified in FIBA 2023?
Two host nations automatically qualify, while another 30 teams compete to qualify.
How many games are in the FIBA World Cup?
There are 92 games in the FIBA World Cup.
How many groups are in the 2023 World Cup?
There are eight groups in the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
How many teams from each continent qualify for the World Cup?
The maximum possible entrants from each continent are as follows:
Europe – 13
Asia and Oceania – 17
Africa – 2
North and South America - 2