Canada headlines Group B, FIBA reveals 2027 World Cup qualifying draw

The road to the 2027 FIBA World Cup just got one step closer.

At the Al Hazm in Doha, Qatar, groups for the upcoming qualifying window were drawn, dividing up the 16 teams from the Americas region.

The teams were placed into eight pots based on the men’s world rankings, while also taking into account geographic distribution. Canada and the United States were both placed into pot 1 as the region’s top-ranked teams.

Canada was pre-allocated into Group B, and upon the completion of the draw, were joined by Puerto Rico (ranked No. 15), the Bahamas (No. 52) and the eventual second-place team from the North Pre-Qualifier tournament.

The 2027 FIBA World Cup will feature 32 teams, which will qualify for the tournament in six competition windows leading up to the event over a 15-month period.

The first window of qualifying action tips off in November 2025, followed by additional windows in February 2026 and July 2026, before the second round of FIBA World Cup Qualifiers begins later that year.

The top three teams from each group following the first three windows of competition will advance to the second round, forming new groups (E and F) as the pathway to the final qualifying stages begins to take shape.

Canada will look to follow up a historic showing at the 2023 World Cup, as they went home with bronze after knocking off the United States in overtime. It was the senior men’s best-ever finish. The Red-and-White currently rank No. 6 in the world