China has joined the bid to host the next International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Men's World Cup in 2019 and 2023. They join six other countries for the chance to host the international basketball contest.

China joins Qatar, Turkey, the Philippines, France, and Germany as the potential hosts of the FIBA's flagship main event.

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Of the countries in the race for the bid, the Philippines and Turkey have already hosted the event previously, in 1978 and 2010 respectively. Turkey has also staged the Women's world championships earlier this year.

France and Germany, on the other hand, have the option to join together for a joint bid.

Meanwhile, China has not had the opportunity and privilege to host the FIBA basketball World Cup. Their team though is a strong one, and basing on the number of tournament titles, China is considered a major basketball powerhouse in Asia and has by far the most successful basketball program in the region.

Over the last decade, the popularity of basketball has grown immensely.

The event was first held in Argentina in 1950. Comparing it to the upcoming 2019 FIBA World Cup, it will be the first tournament to include the expanded 32 team format.

Qualification will also take place under a new worldwide competition system which will come into effect in 2017. It involves nation's playing home and away games against one another.

The next FIBA World Cup also changes in terms of the cycle of years. It will be held five years after the 2014 one in order to reset the four-year-cycle to a different year than the FIFA World Cup.

All six nations will be attending a workshop at FIBA's headquarters in Mies, Switerland on December 15 and 16. Site visits are due to take place early 2015.

Previously, the United States won the FIBA World Cup. They will come in to the 2019 tournament as two-time defending champions.

TagsFIBA World Cup, 2019 FIBA World Cup