The 2023 FIBA World Cup is almost upon us -- with 32 national teams set to vie for glory in Jakarta, Manila and Tokyo from Aug. 25 to Sep. 10.
Spain is the defending champion but who will be likeliest to challenge their throne? And are there any notable teams that didn't make the cut?
Here, we take a closer look at the teams that will be in action, as well as a handful of conspicuous absentees.
PHILIPPINES
Gilas Pilipinas -- ranked 40th in the world (as of Feb. 27, 2023) -- was one of the first qualifiers to the world meet, by virtue of being co-hosts. As such, the Filipinos made the most of the six windows to adjust, slowly but surely, to returning coach Chot Reyes and his system, while also parading their enviable options for naturalized player. After going 6-4 in the Asian qualifiers, the answer to the question of who among Jordan Clarkson, Justin Brownlee and Ange Kouame will be called up has been answered -- as the 2022 NBA Sixth Man of the Year will be leading the charge for the Philippines' always-competitive local lineup. While another dark cloud hovered over the hosts, it has now been confirmed that 7-foot-3 Kai Sotto will also join the fun.
JAPAN
Like Philippines, co-host country and world no. 36 Japan was also essentially assured of a seat to the world meet. Akatsuki Five utilized the six windows of the Asian qualifiers -- where they went 7-5 -- to sharpen their saws, as well, and now follow the lead of NBA player Yuta Watanabe. Another possible player to watch? Son of Philippine basketball legend Marlou Aquino and former Adamson University and National University big Matthew.
ANGOLA
Angola registered an 8-2 record in the African qualifiers, and the 41st-ranked national team booked a ticket to the world meet for the 6th straight time.
AUSTRALIA
The team-to-beat in the Asian qualifiers lived up to that billing, losing only once in 12 games of the six windows. The Boomers, ranked third in the world, scored their best-ever finish by making the semifinals at the last World Cup, and are eager to do better behind NBA players Josh Giddey, Joe Ingles, Matisse Thybulle, Patty Mills, and Matthew Dellavedova.
BRAZIL
Brazil, led by former NBA players Raul Neto and Bruno Caboclo, is eyeing its third overall title -- and first in 50 years -- after going 8-4 in the Americas qualifiers. The world no. 13 Brazilians are one of only two national teams to have never missed a world meet.
CANADA
Canada was the most impressive squad in the Americas qualifiers, by far, winning 11 out of its 12 games. With newly-minted NBA champion Jamal Murray withdrawing recently, All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and rising star RJ Barrett will front the effort for the 15th-ranked national team.
CAPE VERDE
Cape Verde, ranked 64th in the world, will be playing on the big stage and under the bright lights of the world meet for the first time, with much thanks to a 6-3 campaign in the African qualifiers.
CHINA
The previous host is back as a visitor by winding up with a 10-2 standing in the Asian qualifiers. World no. 27 China will yet again lean on Zhou Qi, while also welcoming a brand-new naturalized player in Kyle Anderson.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Dominican Republic, ranked 23rd in the world, keep proving to have a national team on the rise after going 9-3 in the Americas qualifiers and advancing to the world meet for the third time in a row. Karl-Anthony Towns, returning to international action for the first time in a decade, will be the pillar they will lean on.
EGYPT
Egypt didn't make the cut in the last world meet, but came back with a vengeance with an 8-4 standing in the African qualifiers. The world no. 55 Egyptians hope to start a new streak of appearances this time around.
FINLAND
Finland is present at the world meet after being absent the last time around, the first national team to do so from the European qualifiers, where they scored a 9-3 record. First-time NBA All-Star Lauri Markkanen will show the way for the 24th-ranked Wolfpack.
FRANCE
France, ranked fifth in the world, bagged back-to-back bronze medals in the last two World Cups. Following their 10-2 campaign in the European qualifiers, Les Bleus will be a tall task to face with Rudy Gobert even sans Victor Wembanyama.
GEORGIA
NBA player Goga Bitadze-led world no. 32 Georgia will be playing in the world meet for the first time on the back of a just-enough 5-5 record in the European qualifiers.
GERMANY
Germany -- anchored by NBA players Dennis Schroder and Franz Wagner -- is determined to bounce back from their 18th-place performance in the most recent world meet. The 11th-ranked Germans already took the first step in doing so by going 10-2 in the European qualifiers.
GREECE
Make it five in a row in the FIBA World Cup for Greece, ranked 9th in the world, which wound up with a 6-4 record in the European qualifiers. Of course, it's no coincidence that streak coincided with the stardom of Giannis Antetokounmpo. While the NBA champion and MVP has been ruled out after undergoing knee surgery, the Greeks can still count on former NBA player Georgios Papagiannis.
IRAN
World no. 22 Iran continues to stand as a pillar in world basketball, even as they went 6-6 in the Asian qualifiers. In the same light, Hammed Haddadi continues to stand as a pillar for the Iranians.
ITALY
Italy is playing on the world meet for the second straight time following an 8-2 showing in the European qualifiers. The 10th-ranked Azzurri will feature Simone Fontecchio and Nicolo Melli, as they try to stand on the podium for the first time.
IVORY COAST
Ivory Coast was the first African team to secure a seat in the world meet, and the 42nd-ranked national team ended the continental qualifiers at 8-2. Mo Bamba will be the main attraction for them.
JORDAN
Having memorably recorded a thrilling 91-90 win over Philippines back in February and a 6-4 finish in the Asian qualifiers, Jordan, ranked 34th in the world, is eyeing to also break through at the World Cup.
LATVIA
Latvia missed the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 but the world no. 29 national team bounced back big-time with a 9-1 run in the European qualifiers. Thanks to that, the Latvians advanced to the World Cup for the first time, as they recently suffered a blow with Boston Celtics man Kristaps Porzingis ruled out through a foot issue and will need to rely more on fellow NBA big Davis Bertans.
LEBANON
Lebanon finally puts an end to a 13-year absence in the world meet. A 7-3 record in the Asian qualifiers for the 43rd-ranked Cedars was more than enough for that.
LITHUANIA
Lithuania, ranked 8th in the world, has emerged as a mainstay on the world meet, and a 9-3 standing in the European qualifiers did little to change that. NBA veteran Jonas Valanciunas will be their man in the middle, as always.
MEXICO
Mexico is back and better than ever in the world meet, courtesy of an 8-4 performance in the Americas qualifiers. The world no. 31 national team will however be without NBA champion Juan Toscano-Anderson.
MONTENEGRO
With back-to-back tickets to the world meet, this time thanks to a 7-5 record in the European qualifiers, 18th-ranked Montenegro is, most definitely, on the rise.
NEW ZEALAND
New Zealand powered through to an 8-2 performance in the Asian qualifiers all the way to a sixth straight berth in the world meet. The Tall Blacks, ranked 26th in the world, have their sights set on repeating -- or even bettering -- their fourth-place finish in 2002.
PUERTO RICO
Puerto Rico is no pushover in terms of basketball, going 8-4 in the Americas qualifiers and getting their 10th world meet seat in a row. The world no. 20 Puerto Ricans hope for a return to the semifinals, where they last played in 1990.
SERBIA
Serbia had to wait until the last game of the European qualifiers -- and all qualifiers, overall -- to register a 6-4 record and reach the world meet once more. They won't have newly-crowned NBA champion Nikola Jokic, but will still feature a super scorer in Bogdan Bogdanovic.
SLOVENIA
Slovenia used an absence to the last world meet as fuel en route to a 7-5 drive in the European qualifiers -- more than good enough for a return to the World Cup, where the Slovenians, ranked 7th in the world, will be following Luka Doncic's lead.
SOUTH SUDAN
South Sudan, one of the youngest federations but already world no. 62, will be debuting in the World Cup thanks to an impressive 11-1 run in the African qualifiers.
SPAIN
Defending champion and top-ranked (yes, they nudged ahead of longtime no. 1 USA) Spain went 8-2 in the qualifiers, but is expected to go full throttle for the world meet behind Hernangomez brothers Willy and Juancho, as well as young talents Santi Aldama and Usman Garuba.
UNITED STATES
Did you know? United States has seen action in all World Cups. That continues, even as Team USA lost thrice in 12 games in the Americas qualifiers. Reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero, Anthony Edwards and Jalen Brunson are the cream of the crop for the second-ranked national team.
VENEZUELA
World no. 17 Venezuela rode an 8-4 run in the Americas qualifiers to secure a seat to the world meet for the second straight time.
And who's notably missing from the 2023 FIBA World Cup?
INDONESIA
Indonesia, ranked 85th in the world, is a co-host country, but will not send a squad to the World Cup as it failed to reach the FIBA Asia Cup 2022 quarterfinals or Asian qualifiers second round.
ARGENTINA
World no. 4 Argentina will be out of the world meet for the first time since 1982, no thanks to an 8-4 run in the Americas qualifiers.
SOUTH KOREA
Philippine rivals South Korea will not be playing in the world meet, as its forfeiture of the Asian qualifiers first window due to COVID-19 led to a disqualification. The Koreans appealed, but were denied in early 2022.
Other notable national teams who didn't make the cut: Czech Republic (world no. 12), Poland (world no. 14), Turkey (world no. 16), Nigeria (world no. 19), Tunisia (world no. 22), Senegal (world no. 37), Russia.