THE 2023 FIBA Men’s World Cup is edging closer and closer, with the tournament set to kick off in just 112 days.

The World Cup will take place in Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines, and ahead of the first game taking place on August 25, the Official Draw took place earlier this week.

The teams were recently placed into pots, based on the FIBA Men’s World Rankings, but now each side has a view at how the path looks.

From an Australian perspective, the Boomers will be facing off against Germany, Finland and host nation Japan in their journey to the gold medal.

The Aussies are currently ranked third in the world behind Spain and the United States respectively, but will face some stiff competition in their pool. Japan in particular will provide a big challenge, given their solid list and home court advantage.

In order to advance to the next round, the Boomers will need to finish in the top two after the group phase is completed.

Australia is already set to have a talented side hit the court, with newcomers Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels set to join experienced campaigners Patrick Mills and Joe Ingles, and while the availability of Ben Simmons remains up in the air, his potential inclusion could make life even more difficult for selectors.

Australia’s first game will take place on the first day, where they will take on Finland, before Germany looms on the 27th, before another two day break sees them close out this phase with a clash against the hosts.

The Aussies faced off against Germany in the qualifiers, and it was far from an easy win, so the Boomers will need to bring their typically strong style of play if they are to advance past the opening stage.

The team will be coached by Brian Goorjian, who has plenty of experience at the top level, and has been in a similar situation in the past.

Australia’s squad is expected to be announced in the coming weeks, with the Boomers boasting one of their most talented pool of players in recent memory. Australia has shown in the past to be one of the strongest teams in the world, which was reflected in the recent world rankings, so there is an air of excitement around the commencement of the tournament.