The FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup commenced with an exhilarating opening day in Lausanne, Switzerland, delivering a spectacular showcase of talent, dramatic upsets, and historic milestones. The action unfolded across various groups, setting a high standard for the competition and highlighting both emerging team strengths and individual brilliance.

One of the most significant moments of Day 1 was Mali's stunning upset victory over Serbia, with a final score of 72-70 in Group A. This marked Mali's first-ever win against Serbia across all youth and senior levels, defying a significant majority of predictions. Sekou Bagayoko led the charge with 21 points, complemented by Ladji Coulibaly's crucial plays in the closing moments, cementing a historic achievement for the African nation.

History was also made by debutants Israel, who secured their inaugural victory in the U19 World Cup by defeating fellow first-timer host nation Switzerland 102-77 in Group C. After a closely contested initial 15 minutes, Israel asserted dominance, with Omer Mayer contributing 24 points and Ariel Sela adding 16 points and 12 rebounds, marking a sweet start to their tournament journey.

Major title contender Germany faced a stern test in Group B but ultimately prevailed over Slovenia 75-68. The FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2024 champions showcased resilience by rallying from a 13-point deficit. Hannes Steinbach was instrumental in their comeback, delivering a massive double-double of 19 points and 19 rebounds, including a decisive dunk in the final seconds. Jordan Müller also chipped in with 12 points for the Germans, who managed to pass their first major challenge.

In other significant matchups, Canada secured an 80-72 victory over China in Group B, despite struggling from beyond the arc. Their dominance on the glass was key, as they outrebounded China 63-41. Chinese big man Huan Sinan delivered a remarkable defensive performance, tallying 8 blocks and joining an exclusive group of players since 1999, which includes the likes of Qi Zhou and Victor Wembanyama.

The United States began their quest to reclaim the title with a comfortable 88-73 win over Australia in Group D. The Americans established a commanding lead in the second quarter and maintained control throughout the game. AJ Dybantsa led the scoring for the USA with 18 points, while Koat Peat contributed 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Morez Johnson added a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Additional results from the opening day included New Zealand's dramatic comeback win against Argentina in Group A, overcoming a 16-point deficit to secure a 77-72 victory, led by Jackson Ball's 17 points. France also took time to find their rhythm but eventually defeated debutants Cameroon 75-50 in Group D, with Talis Soulhac scoring 16 points. The Dominican Republic used a strong 13-2 run to start the fourth quarter, putting away Jordan with a 79-69 win in Group C, propelled by the combined efforts of Lucas Morillo, Fernando De Los Santos, and Frank Siaca.

Beyond team performances, several individual athletes stood out on Day 1. Lucas Morillo of the Dominican Republic was nearly unstoppable, posting 26 points on efficient shooting, 5-of-5 from the free-throw line, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals, resulting in an impressive efficiency rating of 31 in 36 minutes. Ariel Sela of Israel was almost flawless in their historic win, accumulating 16 points on 5-of-6 shooting, 12 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 assists, achieving an outstanding efficiency rating of 29 in just 23 minutes.

Koat Peat of Team USA showcased his talent and leadership against Australia with 17 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals, recording an efficiency of 25 in 21 minutes. Frank Siaca, another key player for the Dominican Republic, was a dominant force in the paint, finishing with 17 points, 12 rebounds (including 6 offensive), and 4 blocks, asserting his presence with an efficiency rating of 28. Finally, Hannes Steinbach of Germany delivered a truly dominant performance, nearly matching Slovenia's entire team rebound total with 19 boards, alongside 19 points, and a tournament-leading efficiency rating of 38 in 30 minutes, proving simply too much for Slovenia to handle. The opening day of the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup certainly lived up to expectations, promising a compelling tournament ahead.