Failure to beat Spain at World Cup will jeopardize Canada chance of qualifying for Paris Olympics: FIBA

The only way for Canada to have a chance to qualify or the 2024 Paris Olympics in men’s basketball is to beat Spain on Sunday at the FIBA World Cup.

Canada Basketball officials got confirmation from the sport’s world governing body on Saturday that should Canada lose to Spain and Brazil lose to Latvia on Sunday, Brazil would finish the World Cup with a better ranking than Canada.

That ranking — determined by Brazil’s upset win over Canada on Friday — would give Brazil third place in the second-round group and relegate Canada to

Only two of seven FIBA Americas teams get Olympic berths. The United States has clinched a World Cup quarterfinal berth and will most likely get one. The other will go to one of Canada, Brazil, Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic.

Canada does control its own destiny, however.

If it beats Spain on Sunday (9:30 a.m. ET, Sportsnet), Canada will move into the quarterfinals and keep its Olympic dreams alive.

And, if Canada wins and Brazil loses to Latvia, Puerto Rico loses to Italy and Dominican Republic loses to Serbia on Sunday, Canada will gain an Olympic berth as the only other FIBA Americas teams in the quarterfinals.

 

This article was reported by The Star