Canada learned its route to the podium Saturday when the groups were drawn for the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup in China.
The Canadians, ranked 23rd in the world, will compete in Group H alongside Senegal (37th), Lithuania (sixth), and Australia (11th). The group is based in Dongguan, with games starting Aug. 1.
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The #FIBAWC is set. Canada 🇨🇦 along with Senegal 🇸🇳, Lithuania 🇱🇹 and Australia 🇦🇺 make up Group H in Dongguan. #WeAreTeamCanada pic.twitter.com/XenceGtDWs
— Canada Basketball (@CanBball) March 16, 2019
Canada kicks off its tournament Aug. 31 against Australia, before meeting Lithuania two days later. The Canadians will conclude the first round against Senegal on Sept. 4, after which the top two teams from the group will continue in the second round.
In all, 32 teams are participating in this year's World Cup. In addition to deciding a world champion, the competition will also determine seven of the 11 teams that will join Japan in the 2020 Summer Olympics.
Canada qualified for the World Cup with a 10-2 record in the Americas qualification tournament. Roy Rana's team topped its group in each of the two qualification rounds.
This summer's tournament will be the 13th time Canada has participated in the FIBA World Cup/World Championship. Canada's best finish was sixth place (twice), with the team also placing seventh in the Toronto-hosted 1994 competition.