TORONTO, Ont. (November 15, 2021) - Canada Basketball announced Monday the 15 players attending training camp ahead of the first window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Qualifiers.

"We’re looking forward to getting our players and coaches back together in Houston next week for camp," said Nate Bjorkgren, Associate Head Coach, Senior Men’s National Team.  “Our group is focused on preparing for our doubleheader against Bahamas in Dominican Republic at the end of the month.”

As a result of the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, the first window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Qualifiers will be held in a bubble format to ensure the health and safety of all participants with Canada’s opening two contests to be played in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Canada will face Bahamas in back-to-back games on Sunday, November 28th (4:00 PM ET) and Monday, November 29th (4:00 PM ET), live on Sportsnet.  As announced Monday, Sportsnet is now the exclusive broadcast rights-holder for FIBA events in Canada through to Fall 2025.

In preparation for the competition, Canada will train at the University of Houston in Houston, Texas from November 22-25 before travelling to the Dominican Republic.

The 15 players attending training camp and participating in the first window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Qualifiers are part of a broader Senior Men’s National Team player pool that has committed to representing Canada internationally over the course of the next several years in the lead-up to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.  

"The first window of competition for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Americas Qualifiers is very important as we work towards our goals and continue to build a winning culture," said Rowan Barrett, General Manager / Executive Vice-President, Senior Men's Program. "The group of players we’ve selected for training camp features a mix of senior Team Canada veterans and as well as players who will be looking to make their Senior Men’s National Team debut."

Eighty national teams will play games across six qualifying windows to secure their place among the 30 teams who will join hosts Japan and the Philippines in the 32-team edition of FIBA's flagship event.

In the Americas region, 16 teams will face off over two rounds with the three best teams from each group, and the fourth-placed team qualifying for the FIBA Basketball 2023 World Cup.  For additional information on the format of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Qualifiers, click here.

Canada is in Group C for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Qualifiers and will face Dominican Republic, US Virgin Islands and Bahamas.

The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, set to take place from August 25 to September 10, 2023, will see the Group Phase take place in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia. The Final Phase will follow in the Philippines capital city of Manila.