FIBA American Championship - the best international tournament in America
The Basketball American Championship is an international basketball tournament among men's national teams of North and South America held every 4 years under the auspices of FIBA. The first tournament was held in 1980 in Puerto Rico. Teams in the FIBA AmeriCup play each other 11 times, once at home and once away, for a total of 66 matches. Teams are awarded 2 points for a victory and zero for a defeat. In basketball, matches cannot conclude with a draw. When teams finish with identical scores, factors such as point difference and total points accumulated come into play to decide the outcome.
The best countries in the tournament
As of 2023, The United States has been the most successful team in the FIBA American Championship, securing 7 titles. The last time the United States won the FIBA American Championship was in 2017, when they defeated Argentina with a score of 81-76 in the final. Argentina follows closely with 3 titles, and Brazil has clinched 4 titles. Puerto Rico has also made its mark with 3 titles. These nations and others like Venezuela and Mexico have showcased their basketball prowess in the tournament.
Schedule for the next edition
The FIBA American Championship follows a four-year cycle. The most recent edition was held in 2021. The upcoming edition of the American Championship is set to take place in 2025, with the host country and exact dates yet to be announced. Matches are scheduled across three windows in February and November 2024, followed by another set of matches in February 2025.
Pathways to Entry: FIBA American Championship
During the Qualifiers, every participating team is set to engage in two matches against each of their group rivals. These matches will follow a "home and away" format and are scheduled across three windows The tournament's qualification process will see the top three teams from each group, totalling 12 teams in all, securing their spots in the highly-anticipated FIBA American Championship.
Historically, the FIBA American Championship was held every two years and served as a qualifying event for the FIBA World Cup and the Summer Olympic Games. However, since 2017, the FIBA American Championship and other FIBA continental championships for men are held once every four years and are no longer part of the qualifying process for the World Cup or Olympics.
Best players of the tournament
FIBA American Championship all-time top basketball player is Luis Scola. He played 55 games and scored 1,041 points, all for the Argentinian national team. He also holds the record for the most MVP tournament prizes, with 4 titles in 2007,2009, 2011 and 2015.