FIBA Basketball World Cup draw: USA's title defense begins in Group E

With a little help from Hall of Famers Kobe Bryant and Yao Ming on Saturday, FIBA announced the draw for this summer's newly expanded 32-team FIBA Basketball World Cup in Shenzhen, China.

The first obstacles in USA Basketball's hunt for a third straight world title are now set, with the reigning champs being sorted into Group E alongside Turkey, Japan, and tournament debutante Czech Republic.

The action tips off Aug. 31 across eight cities in China and culminates with the gold- and bronze-medal matches in Beijing on Sept. 15.

Here's a look at the draw:

(Current FIBA world ranking in brackets)

Group A

Host city: Beijing

Matches:

• Aug. 31, 2019: Cote d'Ivoire vs. China
• Aug. 31, 2019: Poland vs. Venezuela
• Sept. 2, 2019: China vs. Poland
• Sept. 2, 2019: Venezuela vs. Cote d'Ivoire
• Sept. 4, 2019: Cote d'Ivoire vs. Poland
• Sept. 4, 2019: Venezuela vs. China

Group B

Host city: Wuhan

Matches:

• Aug. 31, 2019: Argentina vs. Korea
• Aug. 31, 2019: Russia vs. Nigeria
• Sept. 2, 2019: Nigeria vs. Argentina
• Sept. 2, 2019: Korea vs. Russia
• Sept. 4, 2019: Korea vs. Nigeria
• Sept. 4, 2019: Russia vs. Argentina

Group C

Host city: Guanzhou

Matches:

• Aug. 31, 2019: Iran vs. Puerto Rico
• Aug. 31, 2019: Spain vs. Tunisia
• Sept. 2, 2019: Tunisia vs. Iran
• Sept. 2, 2019: Puerto Rico vs. Spain
• Sept. 4, 2019: Puerto Rico vs. Tunisia
• Sept. 4, 2019: Spain vs. Iran

Group D

Host city: Foshan

Matches:

• Aug. 31, 2019: Philippines vs. Italy
• Aug. 31, 2019: Angola vs. Serbia
• Sept. 2, 2019: Serbia vs. Philippines
• Sept. 2, 2019: Italy vs. Angola
• Sept. 4, 2019: Italy vs. Serbia
• Sept. 4, 2019: Angola vs. Philippines

Group E

Host city: Shanghai

Matches:

• Aug. 31, 2019: Czech Republic vs. USA
• Aug. 31, 2019: Turkey vs. Japan
• Sept. 2, 2019: Japan vs. Czech Republic
• Sept. 2, 2019: USA vs. Turkey
• Sept. 4, 2019: USA vs. Japan
• Sept. 4, 2019: Turkey vs. Czech Republic

Group F

Host city: Nanjing

Matches:

• Aug. 31, 2019: New Zealand vs. Brazil
• Aug. 31, 2019: Greece vs. Montenegro
• Sept. 2, 2019: Montenegro vs. New Zealand
• Sept. 2, 2019: Brazil vs. Greece
• Sept. 4, 2019: Brazil vs. Montenegro
• Sept. 4, 2019: Greece vs. New Zealand

Group G

Host city: Shenzhen

Matches:

• Aug. 31, 2019: France vs. Germany
• Aug. 31, 2019: Dominican Republic vs. Jordan
• Sept. 2, 2019: Jordan vs. France
• Sept. 2, 2019: Germany vs. Dominican Republic
• Sept. 4, 2019: Germany vs. Jordan
• Sept. 4, 2019: Dominican Republic vs. France

Group H

Host city: Dongguan

Matches:

• Aug. 31, 2019: Senegal vs. Lithuania
• Aug. 31, 2019: Canada vs. Australia
• Sept. 2, 2019: Lithuania vs. Canada
• Sept. 2, 2019: Australia vs. Senegal
• Sept. 4, 2019: Canada vs. Senegal
• Sept. 4, 2019: Lithuania vs. Australia