Bahrain in tough group for basketball World Cup qualifiers

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain are set to face Iran, Kazakhstan and Syria in the first round of Asia/Oceania qualification for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup. The draw was held yesterday and the Bahrainis were placed in Group D.

For the first round of qualifiers, 16 teams from Asia/ Oceania are divided into four groups of four teams to play in home-and-away games. The three best-placed teams from each group will advance to the second round.

There, the 12 remaining nations will be divided into two groups of six. Each team will face teams from another group. Results from the first round will be carried.

The top three teams from each group, along with World Cup co-hosts Japan and the Philippines will qualify. However, if the third co-hosts Indonesia manage to qualify as hosts by making the quarterfinals of the next FIBA Asia Cup, only the top two teams from each group, along with the best third-place team, will qualify.

The qualifiers, which also feature competition in Africa, the Americas and Europe, are set to determine a 32-nation field. The qualification process will include six windows over 15 months.

Eighty teams in all are participating in World Cup qualifying. Bahrain earned their place in the qualifiers after securing their berth in the FIBA Asia Cup. The Bahrainis have yet to compete in the FIBA World Cup.