Which teams can validate their ticket to the World Cup on Monday ?

In addition to Germany and Latvia, qualified for the 2023 World Cup since Friday, France, Spain, Slovenia, Greece, Italy and Lithuania can hope to book their ticket this Monday, November 14 in the European zone.

For the moment, eleven nations are already certain to participate in the World Cup, including three in the European zone for twelve places out of the 32 total. On Friday, Germany and Latvia joined Finland, the first nation to have validated its ticket during the August window.

With three games to go in the qualifying campaign and the final match of the fifth and penultimate international window, a quick update is in order, group by group. As a reminder, the World Cup will be held from August 25 to September 10, 2023 in Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines, the venue for the final phase.

Group I

The situation remains very open in the “group of death”. Behind Latvia, Greece, Serbia, Turkey and Belgium will fight for the last two places. Reinforced with five Euroleague players, Greece could validate its ticket this Monday if it wins in Belgium and if Serbia, even without Vasilije Micic, loses in Belgrade against Turkey.

Ranking
Latvia (6-1, qualified)
Serbia (4-3)
Greece (4-3)
Turkey (3-4)
Belgium (3-4)
Great Britain (1-6, eliminated)

Group J

With Germany and Finland already qualified, Slovenia has the opportunity to kill any suspense in Group J even before the last international window. However, the adversity will be tough as Aleksander Sekulic’s team must win against the group leader, Germany. Their two pursuers, Sweden and Israel, face each other in a match of last hope.

Ranking
Germany (8-1, qualified)
Finland (7-2, qualified)
Slovenia (6-3)
Sweden (4-5)
Israel (3-6)
Estonia (2-7, eliminated)

Group K

After its victory in Lithuania, the French team can finish the job on Monday in Pau against Bosnia-Herzegovina, an opponent who had beaten it before the EuroBasket in Sarajevo. Lithuania can also validate its ticket on Monday if it wins in Montenegro, still fighting for the third place in group K or, in case of defeat, if Bosnia and Hungary (against the Czech Republic) also lose.

Ranking
France (7-2)
Lithuania (7-2)
Montenegro (6-3)
Bosnia and Herzegovina (5-4)
Hungary (4-5)
Czech Republic (3-6)

Group L

Spain has taken an important step in the qualification for the World Cup, beating Italy after extra time in Pesaro on Friday. At home against the only team without a win in the entire European zone, the Netherlands, the European champions must finish the job. Italy also has the opportunity to go through with a win in Georgia, battling with Iceland.

Ranking
Spain (6-1)
Italy (5-2)
Georgia (4-3)
Iceland (4-3)
Ukraine (2-5)
Netherlands (0-7, eliminated)

What about qualifications in the Americas, Asia-Oceania and Africa ?
In the American zone (7 places), Canada secured its ticket with a big win over Venezuela last Thursday. Beaten for the second time in the qualifiers, this time by Bruno Caboclo’s Brazil, the United States – and their homegrown team – can qualify with a win on Monday against Colombia.
In the Asia-Oceania zone (8 places), Australia – who refused to go to Iran for security reasons – validated their place thanks to another very large success in Kazakhstan, as did China, winner… in Iran. The two nations join the Philippines and Japan, two of the three host countries of the finals, automatically qualified, while New Zealand and Lebanon had already secured their place in August.
The African zone (5 places) is not concerned by the November window. For now, only the Ivory Coast has its ticket for the World Cup.

Photo : Team France (FIBA)