Brace yourselves, Philippines. Team USA is coming to our shores next year.
FIBA announced in a press release on Monday that the United States will play the group phase of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 in the Philippines. This was confirmed after the Philippines and its co-hosts Japan and Indonesia chose their preferred teams to play the group phase in their respective countries for "commercial reasons."
Slovenia, bannered by Mavericks star Luka Doncic, will travel to Japan and Canada, whose roster may feature RJ Barrett, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Jamal Murray, will play in Indonesia.
Slovenia and Canada have already qualified for next year's World Cup, which will feature 32 nations. Meanwhile, the US men's basketball team will most likely clinch a World Cup berth after the last window of the qualifiers early next year.
The United States hasn't finalized its official roster yet for the 2023 edition of the tournament but in an earlier report, Trae Young, Bradley Beal, and Tyrese Maxey have all expressed interest in suiting up next summer for Team USA, which only managed a seventh-place finish in 2019.
The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 will run from August 2023 until mid-September. The draw to determine the groupings of the tournament will be held in Manila on April 29.
