On Saturday, December 9, for the first time in history, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) awarded the hosting rights of the 2023 Basketball World Cup to three countries: Japan, Philippines and Indonesia. The joint-bidding by the three countries was held during FIBA’s year-end meeting in Mies, Switzerland.

FIBA’s Central Board chose Japan, Philippines and Indonesia over Argentina and Uruguay. The Philippine group was headed by Chairman Emeritus of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), Manuel V. Pangilinan, who also headed the three-countries candidature. On the other hand, Argentina and Uruguay have been given a chance to be the first choice to present a bid for the 2027 Basketball World Cup.

The 2023 FIBA World Cup will be the second tournament under the new cycle, which will start in 2019 in China. This is the first world cup to be hosted by Indonesia, and the second to be hosted by both the Philippines and Japan. The Philippines had its first world cup in 1978 and Japan in 2006.

It is expected that 32 teams will be joining the said tournament. The venues for the tournament will be in Manila, Okinawa and Jakarta.