The FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2025 is set to be a captivating tournament, with each group presenting unique dynamics, favorites, and potential underdogs. An in-depth analysis of Groups A, B, C, and D reveals the teams to watch, pivotal matchups, and potential paths to the championship.

Group B features Canada, the 2017 champions, alongside Germany, Slovenia, and China. Germany enters as a strong favorite, having won the FIBA U18 EuroBasket and boasting a lethal lineup including Christian Anderson, Hannes Steinbach, Eric Reibe, and Jack Kayil. They are widely expected to contend for a podium finish. China, on the other hand, is considered the underdog, despite months of preparation and a strong core trio of Boyuan Zhang, Sinan Huan, and Jacob Zhu. They aim to reach the Quarter-Finals, matching their best-ever seventh-place finish from 2013. The pivotal game in Group B will be the opening day re-match between Slovenia and Germany, a highly anticipated clash following Germany's victory in the FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2024 Semi-Finals.

Group C is arguably the most wide-open, with no clear favorite among hosts Switzerland and Israel (both first-time participants), Dominican Republic (returning after 10 years), and Jordan (last appearance 30 years ago). Israel is tipped as a reluctant favorite, despite the absence of their top player and U18 EuroBasket MVP Ben Saraf. This creates an opportunity for other talents like Omer Mayer, Rany Belaga, and Joul Karram to step up and prove their worth on the global stage. Jordan takes the underdog role, with Saif Al-Deen Saleh expected to be a standout performer, potentially ranking top-five in scoring and rebounds. The crucial game in this group is between Israel and the Dominican Republic, a matchup that could decide the group winner on Day 3 if both teams maintain undefeated records.

Group A appears balanced, with Serbia identified as the clear favorite due to their pedigree and depth, having finished second at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2024. Key players like Savo Drezgic, Andrej Kostic, and Aleksa Dimitrijevic lead a strong Serbian squad. Mali is the intriguing underdog, bringing physical advantages and players who have honed their skills in Europe, particularly Spain. Sekou Bagayoko is a key player for Mali, tasked with replicating the impactful performance of Siriman Kanoute from the 2019 tournament. The pivotal contest in Group A is between Argentina and New Zealand, a re-match of their FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2024 encounter. This game is vital as the loser could face the formidable Group B winner in the Round of 16.

Finally, Group D is branded the