FIBA World Championship, A Glance at Past (1950-2010)
In 1948 summer olympics, a meeting was held in London where FIBA world congress made a decision to organize a world championship regularly in the space of four years and Argentina was the country given the task of organizing the inuagural world basketball championship.
World Championship 1950 (October 22-November 3)
10 teams made their way into the inuagural world championship,3 top teams from preceding Olympics, 2 teams from South America, Europe and Asia, and the host nation, an automatic selection. To avoid a long and difficult journey from Asia to Argentina, the Asian tems refused to take part in championship, alongwith Uruaguay, the country withdrew itself from the competition over political concerns.
Final line up of teams: United States, France, Brazel, Chile, Argentina, Peru, Spain, Egypt, Yugoslavia, Ecuador.
Teams competed in different phasis of preliminary round, eventually 6 teams made it through to the final round,each team played 5 games. At the end of final round,the world saw its first basketball champion Argentina, with US and Chile on 2nd and 3rd place respectively.
World Championship 1954 (October 22-November 5)
The 2nd championship was started in Brazil with various controversies, 12 teams came to play in championship, they were divided into 4 groups.
Group A: Brazil, Paraguay, Philippines
Group B: Canada, Peru, United States
Group C: France, Uruguay, Yugoslavia
Group D: Chile, Formosa, Israel
Top 2 teams from each group went to play final round, where each team played 7 games, United States carried off the title on points basis, Brazil was the runner-up and Philippines managed to grab the 3rd position.
World Championship 1959 (January 16-31)
The championship was held in Chile, being the host Chile automatically qualified for the final round, other 12 teams were split into 3 groups, they played the preliminary round and top 2 teams from each group advanced to the final round.
Group A: Argetina, United Arab Republic, Formosa, United States
Group B: Brazil, Canada, Soviet Union, Mexico
Group C: Bulgaria, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Uruguay
In the final round, Brazil led the points table by winning 5 out of 6 games and won the gold medal, United States and Chile won silver and bronze respectively.
World Championship 1963 (May 11-23)
The championship was shifted to Brazil when original host Philippines refused to issue visas to some countries, FIBA fined and left out the Philippines from the championship. In preliminary round, 12 teams were placed in 3 groups, top 2 teams from each group went to play final round along with host nation Brazil.
Group A: Canada, France, Uruguay, Soviet Union
Group B: Japan, Peru, Puerto Rico, Yugoslavia
Group C: Argentina, Italy, Mexico, United States
In final round, Brazil defended its title successfully, Yugoslavia earned 2nd position and Soviet Union came third.
World Championship 1967 (May 27-June 11)
Another South American country Uruguay was assigned to organize the world championship. 13 teams qualified for the championship, games were played in the similar pattern to 1963 championship. Host nation jumped directly to final round while other 12 teams played the preliminary round.
Group A: Italy, Mexico, Yugoslavia, United States
Group B: Argentina, Japan, Peru, Soviet Union
Group C: Brazil, Paraguay, Poland, Puerto Rico
7 teams met in the final round, where Soviet Union emerged victorious, while Yugoslavia stood on 2nd and Brazil on 3rd position.
World Championship 1970 (May 10 -24)
It was the first basketball championship arranged outside South America, in Yugoslavia.13 teams including host, participated in the championship. Firstlly teams competed within their groups, the best 2 teams from each group moved ahead, with the host nation directly qualifing for the final round.
Group A: Australia, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, United States
Group B: Brazil, Canada, Italy, Korea
Group C: Panama, Soviet Union, United Arab Republic, Uruguay
Yugoslavia was awarded the trophy for winning championship, while Brazil earned silver medal and bronze going to Soviet Union.
World Championship 1974 (July 3-14)
This time around championship was schelduled to be held in Puerto Rico. For the first time, 14 teams were competing in championship. The defending champion Yugoslavia along with host nation was given a ticket straight to the final round.
Group A: Brazil, Central Africa Republic, Mexico, Soviet Union
Group B: Argentina, Philipinnes, Spain, United States
Group C: Canada, Australia, Cuba, Czechoslovakia
6 teams emerged out of the preliminary round, total 8 teams went to final round to take on each other. At hte end, Soviet Union came out on the top, while Yugoslavia and United States ensured 2nd and 3rd positions respectively.
World Championship 1978 (October 1-14)
The venue of the championship was Philippine, similar to the previous championship 14 team arrived at the venue, defending champion and host went directly to the final round,while other 12 teams battled hard to come through.
Group A: Canada, Korea, Senegal, Yugoslavia
Group B: Brazil, China, Italy, Puerto Rico
Group C: Australia, Czechoslovakia, Dominican Republic, United States
8 teams made their way to semifinal, top 2 teams played the final game, Yugoslavia emerged as winner by beating Soviet Union in the finals 82-81.
World Championship 1982 (August 15-28)
The 1982 championship was hosted by Colombia, a team appearing for the first time in championship, given a benefit of moving to the final round without playing a single game in Preliminary round.
Group A: China, Panama, Spain, United States
Group B: Australia, Brazil, Cote d’Ivoire, Soviet Union
Group C: Canada, Czechoslovakia, Uruguay, Yugoslavia
From 12 teams, 6 teams advanced to the final round so as the host nation. Best 2 teams of final round met each other in gold medal game, where Soviet Union beat United States 95-94, while Yugoslavia won the 3rd place game.
World Championship 1986 (July 5-19)
Spain was selected as the host of 1986 world championship, for the time in history, 24 teams took part in championship. This time around, FIBA made it compulsory for every team to play preliminary round. All 24 teams were divided into 4 groups, top 3 teams moved ahead to play semifinal.
Group A: Brazil, France, Greece, Korea, Panama, Spain
Group B: Angola, Australia, Cuba, Israel, Soviet Union, Uruguay
Group C: China, Cote d’Ivoire, Italy, Puerto Rico, United States, West Germany
Group D: Argentina, Canada, alayshia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Yugoslavia
In semifinal round, 2 groups were created, 12 teams were placed in those groups. Top 2 teams from each group qualified for gold medal bracket, then ultimate 2 best teams played in finals, where US claimed gold medal by beating Soviet Union87-85, while Yugoslavia getting to 3rd position.
World Championship 1990 (August 8-20)
40 years later, the championship was held again in Argentina. The number of teams was reduced to 16, placed in 4 groups.
Group A: Puerto Rico, Yugoslavia, Venezuela, Angola
Group B: Brazil, Italy, Australia, China
Group C: US, Greece, Spain, Korea
Group D: Soviet Union, Argentina, Canada, Egypt
Top 2 teams from each group progressed to the second round to compete in two groups, the teams finished at the top of each group remained in gold medal contention, in finals Yugoslavia secured a great margin victory over Soviet Union 92-75 and US managed to grab 3rd position.
World championship 1994 (August 4-14)
The Championship was played in identical pattern to 1990 championship, Canada was the host nation, 16 teams made their way to first round of championship.
Group A: China, US, Spain, Brazil
Group B: Croatia, Australia, Cuba, Korea
Group C: Russia, Canada, Argentina, Angola
Group D: Germany, Greece, Puerto Rico, Egypt
8 teams were eliminated in the first round, remaining 8 went ahead to play second round, where the teams were divided into 2 groups, top 2 teams from each group ensured their place in semifinal, the semifinal winners US and Russia played final game, with US winning the game 137-91 over Russia. Croatia had to content themselves on bronze.
World Championship 1998 (July 29-August 9)
The championship was held in Greece and 16 teams contested the championship. America sent an inferior team due to NBA lock-out.
Group A: Greece, Italy, Canada, Senegal
Group B: Yugoslavia, Russia, Puerto Rico, Japan
Group C: Lithuania, US, Brazil, Korea
Group E: Argentina, Spain, Australia, Nigeria
First 3 teams in each group advanced to the second preliminary round, to play in 2 new groups,8 teams stepped forward to the quarterfinals, leaving behind Puerto Rico, Canada, Australia and Brazil. 4 teams contested in semifinals, while final was played between Yugoslavia and Russia, Yugoslavia went to win its 3rd final by beating Russia 64-62.
World Championship 2002 (August 29-September 8 )
For the first time,the championship was held in United States, the home of basketball. US appeared to be as one of the favorites of championship, but surprizengly knockedout of the medal contention in the quartifinals. 16 teams were divided into 4 groups.
Group A: Angola, Canada, Spain, Serbia & Montenegro
Group B: Brazil, Lebanan, Puerto Rico, Turkey
Group C: Algeria, China, Germany, US
Group D: Argentina, New Zealand, Russia, Venezuela
4 teams were eliminated in first round, remaining 12 teams went in either group E or F to play second round, 8 played knockout stage, 4 reached to semifinals and the top 2 Serbia & Montenegro and Argentina fought hard for the first position, Argentina succembed to Serbia & Montenegro by 84-77, while Germany went on to win their first ever medal in championship.
World Championship 2006 (August 19-September 3)
The basketball championship was hosted by Japan, like 1986 championship, 24 teams managed to appear in championship. 1 host nation, 1 preceding olympic champion, 4 wild cards, 6 from Europe, 4 from Americas, 3 each from Asia and Africa and 2 teams from Oceania. 24 teams were placed in 4 groups to play preliminary round, each group having 6 teams.
Group A: Argentina, France, Lebanon, Nigeria, Serbia & Montenegro, Venezuela
Group B: Angola, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Panama, Spain
Group C: Australia, Brazil, Lithuania, Greece, Qatar, Turkey
Group D: China, Italy, Puerto Rico, Senegal, Slovenia, US
16 went to knockout stage, 8 played quarterfinals, 4 progressed to semifinals and top 2 teams played the finals, where Spain thrashed Greece in a one sided affair 70-47 and US snached 3rd place from Argentina96-81.
World Championship 2010 (August 28-September 12)
Turkey hosted the 2010 basketball championship, received an automatic berth alongwith 2008 Olympic champion United States. Total 24 teams participated in the championship.
Group A: Serbia, Argentina, Australia, Angola, Germany, Jordan
Group B: US, Slovenia, Brazil, Croatia, Iran, Tunisia
Group C: Turkey, Russia, Greece, China, Puerto Rico, Cote d’Ivoire
Group D: Lithuania, Spain, New Zealand, France, Lebanon, Canada
16 reams secured their place in round of 16, 8 advanced to the quarterfinal, 4 competed in semifinal, the best 2 teams United States and Turkey met in the final, US toppled Turkey 81-64, claiming their fourth title.
Related posts
- FIBA World Championship Facts, Stats, Records
- FIBA World Championship - MVP’s and Top Scorers
- International Basketball Federation (FIBA)
- FIBA World Championship - Some Interesting Records
- FIBA World Championship - Important Results and Statistics
- FIBA World Championship - Hosts and Venues
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