We examine the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup list of champions, tournament history, & prize money ahead of the 2023 edition
Since the tournament’s inception in 1950, United States has clinched most titles and sit at the top with five wins including their latest victory in 2014. Meanwhile, Spain have won two of the last four titles and will be eager to bag their third title in Manila. According to the official schedule, 2023 FIBA World Cup will tip-off on 25th August and run through 10th September.
FIBA Basketball World Cup full winners list and 2023 winner and runner up prize money
Spain ready to defend their World Cup title 👑#FIBAWC x #WinForEspana 🇪🇸
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 🏆 (@FIBAWC) August 16, 2023
2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup history, final positions, winners list, best performers, & MVPs
This year’s tournament will include three hosts for the first time ever, resulting in games being spread out among the Philippines, Japan, & Indonesia. All roads will eventually converge in Manila, where the final will be held on September 10. Notably, six nations have won the title since the tournament’s beginning in 1950, with the United States holding the record for the most titles won with five. In the 2023 FIBA World Cup, Spain will enter the competition as the reigning champions but, experts have labelled United States as the overwhelming favorite considering their squad depth and talent.
in the below table, we examine which nations have previously taken home the Naismith Trophy, which honors James Naismith as the inventor of basketball:
Edition | Year | Hosts | Champion | Runner-up | Third-Place | Fourth-Place | MVP | Teams |
1 | 1950 | Argentina | Argentina | United States | Chile | Brazil | Oscar Furlong (ARG) | 10 |
2 | 1954 | Brazil | United States | Brazil | Philippines | France | Kirby Minter (USA) | 12 |
3 | 1959 | Chile | Brazil | United States | Chile | Formosa | Amaury Pasos (BRA) | 13 |
4 | 1963 | Brazil | Brazil | Yugoslavia | Soviet Union | United States | Wlamir Marques (BRA) | 13 |
5 | 1967 | Uruguay | Soviet Union | Yugoslavia | Brazil | United States | Ivo Daneu (YUG) | 13 |
6 | 1970 | Yugoslavia | Yugoslavia | Brazil | Soviet Union | Italy | Sergei Belov (USSR) | 13 |
7 | 1974 | Puerto Rico | Soviet Union | Yugoslavia | United States | Cuba | Dragan Kicanovic (YUG) | 14 |
8 | 1978 | Philippines | Yugoslavia | Soviet Union | Brazil | Italy | Drazen Dalipagic (YUG) | 14 |
9 | 1982 | Colombia | Soviet Union | United States | Yugoslavia | Spain | Doc Rivers (USA) | 13 |
10 | 1986 | Spain | United States | Soviet Union | Yugoslavia | Brazil | Drazen Petrovic (YUG) | 24 |
11 | 1990 | Argentina | Yugoslavia | Soviet Union | United States | Puerto Rico | Toni Kukoc (YUG) | 16 |
12 | 1994 | Canada | United States | Russia | Croatia | Greece | Shaquille O’Neal (USA) | 16 |
13 | 1998 | Greece | FR Yugoslavia | Russia | United States | Greece | Dejan Bodiroga (YUG) | 16 |
14 | 2002 | United States | FR Yugoslavia | Argentina | Germany | New Zealand | Dirk Nowitzski (GER) | 16 |
15 | 2006 | Japan | Spain | Greece | United States | Argentina | Pau Gasol (ESP) | 24 |
16 | 2010 | Turkey | United States | Turkey | Lithuania | Serbia | Kevin Durant (USA) | 24 |
17 | 2014 | Spain | United States | Serbia | France | Lithuania | Kyrie Irving (USA) | 24 |
18 | 2019 | China | Spain | Argentina | France | Australia | Ricky Rubio (ESP) | 32 |
FIBA Basketball World Cup: most successful teams & prize money
The prize money for the FIBA World Cup 2023 will probably be in the neighborhood of $15 million or more, with the precise number depending on numerous factors including sponsorships and TV agreements.
It is estimated that the winning team will earn between $2.5 Million – $3 Million and the runner-up team will bag approximately $1.5 Million as prize money. In order to ensure that all teams that advance to the latter stages of the event receive a sizeable financial benefit, cash rewards will also be given to the champions and other highly ranked teams.
Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
1 | United States | 5 | 3 | 4 | 12 |
2 | Yugoslavia | 5 | 3 | 2 | 10 |
3 | Soviet Union | 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 |
4 | Brazil | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
5 | Spain | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
6 | Argentina | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
7 | Russia | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
8 | Greece | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Serbia | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
Turkey | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
11 | Chile | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
France | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
13 | Croatia | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Germany | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
Lithuania | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
Philippines | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
Total | 18 | 18 | 18 | 54 |