Cities eyeing the tournament, either as a solo or co-host, have until June 9 to express their interest to the sport's governing body.

The 2019 tournament, moved from 2018 to create an adapted four-year cycle, is being expanded from the current 24-team format to a 32-team competition.

While FIBA has yet to decide if the host for the 2019 and 2023 editions will be decided at the same time, it wants submissions for both,

"Basketball is a truly global sport and we are proud to share our flagship event with the world," said FIBA secretary general and International Olympic Committee member Patrick Baumann.

"2019 will be our largest event yet and will mark our place in the global sporting calendar.

"We are looking for a host that can stage the most prestigious sporting event of the year.

"It will be the culmination of a two-year qualification process and promises to be a winning combination for players, supporters and hosts."

Basketball's governing body has opened the bidding process for both the 2019 and 2023 World Cup ©AFP/Getty Images



Seven teams will secure a place at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games through the 2019 World Cup, while another 16 will earn a spot in FIBA's Olympic qualifying tournaments.

FIBA says the "growing demand of national federations, cities and nations" to host the World Cup has led it to develop a "new structured bid process".

It will see the hosts for the 2019 tournament decided in May next year by the FIBA Central Board.

Ninety-two games will be played across 16 days of competition in 2019.

This year's World Cup, the 17th to be held, although the rest have been called World Championships, is due to be staged in Spain from August 30 to September 14.

Turkey hosted the competition in 2010, Japan in 2006, the Untied States in 2002 and Greece in 1998.

The United States are the defending champions, after beating hosts Turkey 81-64 in the final in Istanbul.