In case you're unaware, the Asian and Oceanian teams will be combining to create a continental championship known as the FIBA Asia Cup. The process begins in 2017 which is a part of a massive overhaul in international basketball. Essentially, FIBA has adopted a FIFA-style international programme that will include windows in which all international teams will compete in throughout the year.
So our new journey to the Olympics/World Cup/Asia Cup begins next year in November. We'll be placed in Group A with the highest ranked 15 Asian/Oceanian teams. The 16 Group A teams will be split into 4 groups of 4 teams during stage 1 which will be followed by the top 3 teams from each group being combined into 2 groups of 6 in stage 2 (points will carry over to stage 2 from stage 1).
The international windows include one home game and one away game. This is the schedule:
2017
November - First stage (2 games)
2018
February - First stage (2 games)
June - First stage (2 games)
September - Second stage (2 games)
November - Second stage (2 games)
2019
February - Second stage (2 games)
September - FIBA World Cup (32 teams total)
This is where it becomes really easy for us. 7 teams from the 2019 FIBA World Cup will then automatically qualify for the 2020 Olympics but it will be based on geographical location. Here is that break down of automatic Olympic qualifiers:
2x Americas
2x Europe
1x Africa
1x Asia
1x Oceania
All we have to do to qualify for the 2020 Olympics is finish higher than New Zealand in the 2019 FIBA World Cup.
Perhaps one of the most interesting rule changes is that the winner of the Olympics no longer automatically qualifies for the FIBA World Cup. This means even the mighty United States will be forced to play qualifying matches in the international windows against the continental opponents in order to qualify for the World Cup and Olympics. Yes, that dream matchup of USA vs Jamaica is now a reality!
Given we're the top ranked nation in Oceania and Asia, group stage could look something like this next year:
Australia (11)
Philippines (28)
Japan (48)
Hong Kong (65)
I'd like to think we could pretty easily dispose of those countries in basketball and have no issues qualifying for the 2019 World Cup, along with the 2020 Olympics. Anyway, we're going to be seeing a lot more international basketball over the next few years!
So our new journey to the Olympics/World Cup/Asia Cup begins next year in November. We'll be placed in Group A with the highest ranked 15 Asian/Oceanian teams. The 16 Group A teams will be split into 4 groups of 4 teams during stage 1 which will be followed by the top 3 teams from each group being combined into 2 groups of 6 in stage 2 (points will carry over to stage 2 from stage 1).
The international windows include one home game and one away game. This is the schedule:
2017
November - First stage (2 games)
2018
February - First stage (2 games)
June - First stage (2 games)
September - Second stage (2 games)
November - Second stage (2 games)
2019
February - Second stage (2 games)
September - FIBA World Cup (32 teams total)
This is where it becomes really easy for us. 7 teams from the 2019 FIBA World Cup will then automatically qualify for the 2020 Olympics but it will be based on geographical location. Here is that break down of automatic Olympic qualifiers:
2x Americas
2x Europe
1x Africa
1x Asia
1x Oceania
All we have to do to qualify for the 2020 Olympics is finish higher than New Zealand in the 2019 FIBA World Cup.
Perhaps one of the most interesting rule changes is that the winner of the Olympics no longer automatically qualifies for the FIBA World Cup. This means even the mighty United States will be forced to play qualifying matches in the international windows against the continental opponents in order to qualify for the World Cup and Olympics. Yes, that dream matchup of USA vs Jamaica is now a reality!
Given we're the top ranked nation in Oceania and Asia, group stage could look something like this next year:
Australia (11)
Philippines (28)
Japan (48)
Hong Kong (65)
I'd like to think we could pretty easily dispose of those countries in basketball and have no issues qualifying for the 2019 World Cup, along with the 2020 Olympics. Anyway, we're going to be seeing a lot more international basketball over the next few years!
