Canada will begin the defence of their FIBA Under-19 World Cup title tomorrow when they face Australia in their Group B opener in Heraklion in Greece ©FIBA

Canada will begin the defence of their International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Under-19 World Cup title tomorrow when they face Australia in their Group B opener in Heraklion in Greece.

They are one of five countries who will be hoping to claim a second FIBA Under-19 World Cup crown and take sole possession of second place in the all-time medal table behind six-times winners the United States.

The others are Australia, Greece, Lithuania and Serbia.

Also drawn in Group B are Mali and Latvia.

Group A is made up of Lithuania, New Zealand, Senegal and the US, whose last triumph came in 2015, while Group C features Argentina, Greece, the Philippines and Russia.

Australia and Canada have both been drawn into Group B ©FIBA
Australia and Canada have both been drawn into Group B ©FIBA

Completing the line-up are the Group D hopefuls – China, France, Puerto Rico and Serbia.

Group action is due to run through to July 2.

The knockout stage, which will initially include all 16 teams, will then be played out from July 3 to 7.

All matches will be held across two venues, Heraklion University Sports Hall and Heraklion Indoor Sports Arena.

Canada beat Italy 79-60 in the 2017 final in Egypt’s capital Cairo.