2006 FIBA World Championship

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2006 FIBA World Championship
FIBA バスケットボール世界選手権 2006
FIBA Basukettobōru Sekai Senshuken 2006
2006 FIBA World Championship logo.jpg
Tournament details
Host countryJapan
Dates19 August – 3 September
Officially opened by Akihito
Teams24 (from 5 confederations)
Venue(s)5 (in 5 host cities)
Final positions
ChampionsFlag of Spain.svg  Spain (1st title)
Runners-upFlag of Greece.svg  Greece
Third placeFlag of the United States.svg  United States
Fourth placeFlag of Argentina.svg  Argentina
Tournament statistics
Games played80
MVP Flag of Spain.svg Pau Gasol
Top scorer Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Yao Ming
(25.3 points per game)
2002
2010

The 2006 FIBA World Championship was the 15th FIBA World Championship, the international basketball world championship for men's national teams. The tournament was hosted by Japan and held from 19 August to 3 September 2006. It was co-organised by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), Japan Basketball Association (JABBA) and the 2006 Organising Committee.

Contents

For the first time since 1986, the World Championship was contested by 24 nations, eight more than in 2002. As a result, group rounds were conducted in four cities, with the knockout rounds being hosted by Saitama City.

Spain won the tournament by beating Greece 70–47 in the championship final. Spain won all nine games they played. Spain's gold medal in this tournament was the first medal Spain had ever won in a FIBA World Championship. Pau Gasol also became the first Spaniard to win the MVP award. It was the first time a country has won all nine of its games since 1994 when the United States won all nine games and took the gold medal home. The bronze medal was won by the United States, who defeated Argentina, 96–81, in the third place game, after a semi-finals loss to Greece. Up to 2019, including the 2014 tournament, it has been the only tournament where neither Yugoslavia or the USA have reached the final. The 2006 tournament marked the final appearance of Serbia and Montenegro as they broke up into the independent nations of Serbia and Montenegro after a successful independence referendum in Montenegro in May.

Seventeen years after the 2006 edition, Japan once again hosted the FIBA World Championships, now called the World Cup in 2023 in Okinawa along with the Philippines and Indonesia.

Venues

Hamamatsu Sapporo
Hamamatsu Arena
Capacity: 5,100
Sapporo Arena
Capacity: 6,400
Hamamatsu Arena.jpg Kita-eru-Espolada.jpg
Hiroshima Saitama Sendai
Hiroshima Green Arena
Capacity: 6,900
Saitama Super Arena
Capacity: 21,000
Sendai Gymnasium
Capacity: 6,100
Hiroshima Prefectural Sports Center 2021-03 ac (2).jpg Japanese Saitama Super Arena.jpg Arena of the Kameiarena sendai.jpg

Qualification

There were 24 teams taking part in the 2006 World Cup of Basketball.

Qualified teams

EventDateLocationBerthsQualified
Host nation1Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
2004 Olympics August 15–28, 2004 Flag of Greece.svg Athens 1Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina
2005 FIBA Africa Championship August 15–24, 2005 Flag of Algeria.svg Algiers 3Flag of Angola.svg  Angola
Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal
Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria
2005 FIBA Oceania Championship August 17–21, 2005 Flag of New Zealand.svg Auckland and Dunedin 2Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
2005 FIBA Americas Championship August 24–September 4, 2005 Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg Santo Domingo 4Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil
Flag of Venezuela.svg  Venezuela
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Flag of Panama.svg  Panama
2005 FIBA Asia Championship September 8–16, 2005 Flag of Qatar.svg Doha 3Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon
Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar
EuroBasket 2005 4–22 September 2005Flag of Yugoslavia (1992-2003); Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (2003-2006).svg  Serbia and Montenegro 6Flag of Greece.svg  Greece
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain
Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania
Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia
Wild cards 4Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico
Flag of Yugoslavia (1992-2003); Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (2003-2006).svg  Serbia and Montenegro
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey
TOTAL24

Squads

At the start of tournament, all 24 participating countries had 12 players on their roster.

Competing nations

The following national teams competed:

Teams that entered qualification tournaments; Asia (purple), Africa (orange), Americas (green), Europe (blue) and Oceania (yellow) and automatic qualifiers (aqua) 2006 FIBA WC qualifying.png
Teams that entered qualification tournaments; Asia (purple), Africa (orange), Americas (green), Europe (blue) and Oceania (yellow) and automatic qualifiers (aqua)
Group AGroup BGroup CGroup D

Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina
Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France
Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon
Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria
Flag of Yugoslavia (1992-2003); Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (2003-2006).svg  Serbia and Montenegro
Flag of Venezuela.svg  Venezuela

Flag of Angola.svg  Angola
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Flag of Panama.svg  Panama
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain

Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece
Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania
Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey

Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
Flag of Italy (2003-2006).svg  Italy
Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico
Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal
Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia
Flag of the United States.svg  United States

Teams qualified FIBA WC 2006 Teams.png
Teams qualified

Japan qualified as the host country, and Italy, Puerto Rico, Serbia and Montenegro, and Turkey gained FIBA wild-card invitations. [1] Argentina qualified as the champion of the 2004 Olympics. The remaining 18 countries qualified through their continents' qualifying tournaments (six from Europe, four from the Americas, three from each of Asia and Africa and two from Oceania).

The draw for the 2006 World Championship was held in Tokyo on 15 January 2006. In the preliminary rounds, Group A played at Sendai, Group B at Hiroshima, Group C at Hamamatsu and Group D at Sapporo. The Medal Rounds were played at Saitama.

Group stage

Group A

Venue: Sendai Gymnasium, Sendai

PosTeamPldWLPFPAPDPtsQualification
1Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 550464339+12510 Round of 16
2Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France 532353329+248
3Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 523371393227 [a]
4Flag of Yugoslavia (1992-2003); Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (2003-2006).svg  Serbia and Montenegro 523409352+577 [a]
5Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon 523357451947 [a]
6Flag of Venezuela.svg  Venezuela 514336426906
Source: FIBA archive
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal average; 4) head-to-head number of points scored.
Notes:
  1. 1 2 3 Head-to-head record: Nigeria 2–0, Serbia and Montenegro 1–1, Lebanon 0–2

19 August 2006

Venezuela  Flag of Venezuela.svg72–82Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon
Serbia and Montenegro  Flag of Yugoslavia (1992-2003); Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (2003-2006).svg75–82Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria
Argentina  Flag of Argentina.svg80–70Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France

20 August 2006

Nigeria  Flag of Nigeria.svg77–84Flag of Venezuela.svg  Venezuela
Lebanon  Flag of Lebanon.svg72–107Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina
France  Flag of France (lighter variant).svg65–61Flag of Yugoslavia (1992-2003); Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (2003-2006).svg  Serbia and Montenegro

21 August 2006

Argentina  Flag of Argentina.svg96–54Flag of Venezuela.svg  Venezuela
Serbia and Montenegro  Flag of Yugoslavia (1992-2003); Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (2003-2006).svg104–57Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon
France  Flag of France (lighter variant).svg64–53Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria

23 August 2006

Nigeria  Flag of Nigeria.svg64–98Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina
Venezuela  Flag of Venezuela.svg65–90Flag of Yugoslavia (1992-2003); Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (2003-2006).svg  Serbia and Montenegro
Lebanon  Flag of Lebanon.svg74–73Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France

24 August 2006

Serbia and Montenegro  Flag of Yugoslavia (1992-2003); Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (2003-2006).svg79–83Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina
Lebanon  Flag of Lebanon.svg72–95Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria
France  Flag of France (lighter variant).svg81–61Flag of Venezuela.svg  Venezuela

Group B

Venue: Hiroshima Green Arena, Hiroshima

PosTeamPldWLPFPAPDPtsQualification
1Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 550476336+14010 Round of 16
2Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 541421384+379
3Flag of Angola.svg  Angola 532451406+458
4Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 523345393487
5Flag of Japan.svg  Japan (H)514322393716
6Flag of Panama.svg  Panama 5053264291035
Source: FIBA archive
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal average; 4) head-to-head number of points scored.
(H) Hosts

19 August 2006

Germany  Flag of Germany.svg81–70Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
Angola  Flag of Angola.svg83–70Flag of Panama.svg  Panama
Spain  Flag of Spain.svg86–70Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand

20 August 2006

Japan  Flag of Japan.svg62–87Flag of Angola.svg  Angola
New Zealand  Flag of New Zealand.svg56–80Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
Panama  Flag of Panama.svg57–101Flag of Spain.svg  Spain

21 August 2006

Angola  Flag of Angola.svg95–73Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Germany  Flag of Germany.svg71–92Flag of Spain.svg  Spain
Japan  Flag of Japan.svg78–61Flag of Panama.svg  Panama

23 August 2006

Spain  Flag of Spain.svg93–83Flag of Angola.svg  Angola
Panama  Flag of Panama.svg63–81Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
New Zealand  Flag of New Zealand.svg60–57Flag of Japan.svg  Japan

24 August 2006

Angola  Flag of Angola.svg103–108 (3OT)Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
New Zealand  Flag of New Zealand.svg86–75Flag of Panama.svg  Panama
Japan  Flag of Japan.svg55–104Flag of Spain.svg  Spain

Group C

Venue: Hamamatsu Arena, Hamamatsu

PosTeamPldWLPFPAPDPtsQualification
1Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 550404358+4610 Round of 16
2Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 541370358+129
3Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 532413353+608
4Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 523370349+217
5Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 514399392+76
6Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar 5053104561465
Source: FIBA archive
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal average; 4) head-to-head number of points scored.

19 August 2006

Brazil  Flag of Brazil.svg77–83Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Greece  Flag of Greece.svg84–64Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar
Turkey  Flag of Turkey.svg76–74Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania

20 August 2006

Qatar  Flag of Qatar.svg66–97Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil
Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg68–76Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey
Lithuania  Flag of Lithuania.svg76–81(OT)Flag of Greece.svg  Greece

22 August 2006

Lithuania  Flag of Lithuania.svg106–65Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar
Greece  Flag of Greece.svg72–69Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Turkey  Flag of Turkey.svg73–71Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil

23 August 2006

Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg57–78Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania
Qatar  Flag of Qatar.svg69–76Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey
Brazil  Flag of Brazil.svg80–91Flag of Greece.svg  Greece

24 August 2006

Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg93–46Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar
Lithuania  Flag of Lithuania.svg79–74Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil
Greece  Flag of Greece.svg76–69Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey

Group D

Venue: Sapporo Arena, Sapporo

PosTeamPldWLPFPAPDPtsQualification
1Flag of the United States.svg  United States 550543428+11510 Round of 16
2Flag of Italy (2003-2006).svg  Italy 541386367+199
3Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 523434433+17 [a]
4Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 523424455317 [a]
5Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico 52343244087 [a]
6Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal 505355451965
Source: FIBA archive
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal average; 4) head-to-head number of points scored.
Notes:
  1. 1 2 3 Head-to-head record: Slovenia 1–1 (1.04 GAvg), China 1–1 (0.99 GAvg), Puerto Rico 1–1 (0.97 GAvg)

19 August 2006

Puerto Rico  Flag of Puerto Rico.svg100–111Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Slovenia  Flag of Slovenia.svg96–79Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal
China  Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg69–84Flag of Italy (2003-2006).svg  Italy

20 August 2006

Senegal  Flag of Senegal.svg79–88Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico
Italy  Flag of Italy (2003-2006).svg80–76Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia
United States  Flag of the United States.svg121–90Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China

22 August 2006

Puerto Rico  Flag of Puerto Rico.svg90–87 (OT)Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
Italy  Flag of Italy (2003-2006).svg64–56Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal
Slovenia  Flag of Slovenia.svg95–114Flag of the United States.svg  United States

23 August 2006

Senegal  Flag of Senegal.svg83–100Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
Puerto Rico  Flag of Puerto Rico.svg82–90Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia
United States  Flag of the United States.svg94–85Flag of Italy (2003-2006).svg  Italy

24 August 2006

Slovenia  Flag of Slovenia.svg77–78Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
Italy  Flag of Italy (2003-2006).svg73–72Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico
United States  Flag of the United States.svg103–58Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal

Knockout stage

Venue: Saitama Super Arena, Saitama

 
Round of 16Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
              
 
26 August
 
 
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 79
 
29 August
 
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 62
 
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 83
 
26 August
 
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 58
 
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 90
 
1 September
 
Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 84
 
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 74
 
26 August
 
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 75
 
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 87
 
29 August
 
Flag of Yugoslavia (1992-2003); Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (2003-2006).svg  Serbia and Montenegro 75
 
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 89
 
26 August
 
Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 67
 
Flag of Italy (2003-2006).svg  Italy 68
 
3 September
 
Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 71
 
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 70
 
27 August
 
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 47
 
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 95
 
30 August
 
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 64
 
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 73
 
27 August
 
Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France 56
 
Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France 68
 
1 September
 
Flag of Angola.svg  Angola 62
 
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 101
 
27 August
 
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 95 Third place
 
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 113
 
30 August2 September
 
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 73
 
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 85Flag of the United States.svg  United States 96
 
27 August
 
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 65 Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 81
 
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 78
 
 
Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 77
 

Round of 16

26 August 2006
10:00
Argentina  Flag of Argentina.svg7962Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Scoring by quarter: 21–16, 16–13, 22–15, 20–18
Pts: Oberto 23
Rebs: Oberto 10
Asts: Sánchez 5
Pts: Dickel 15
Rebs: Bradshaw 5
Asts: Dickel 4
Saitama Super Arena, Saitama
Attendance: 9,100
26 August 2006
13:00
Italy  Flag of Italy (2003-2006).svg6871Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania
Scoring by quarter: 20–17, 15–19, 14–14, 19–21
Pts: Rocca, Di Bella 15
Rebs: Di Bella 9
Asts: Soragna 5
Pts: Macijauskas 15
Rebs: Javtokas 8
Asts: Kalnietis 2
Saitama Super Arena, Saitama
Attendance: 9,100
26 August 2006
17:00
Turkey  Flag of Turkey.svg9084Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia
Scoring by quarter: 20–19, 24–17, 16–24, 30–24
Pts: Erdoğan 24
Rebs: Gönlüm 8
Asts: Arslan 3
Pts: Nachbar 18
Rebs: Nachbar 8
Asts: Bečirovič 5
Saitama Super Arena, Saitama
Attendance: 8,150
26 August 2006
20:00
Spain  Flag of Spain.svg8775Flag of Yugoslavia (1992-2003); Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (2003-2006).svg  Serbia and Montenegro
Scoring by quarter: 20–10, 23–21, 23–21, 21–23
Pts: Gasol 19
Rebs: Gasol 15
Asts: Calderón 4
Pts: Miličić 18
Rebs: Miličić 15
Asts: Popović 4
Saitama Super Arena, Saitama
Attendance: 8,150
27 August 2006
10:00
Germany  Flag of Germany.svg7877Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria
Scoring by quarter: 25–22, 23–22, 14–14, 16–19
Pts: Nowitzki 23
Rebs: Nowitzki 9
Asts: Nowitzki 5
Pts: Ibekwe 22
Rebs: Ibekwe 10
Asts: Muoneke 4
Saitama Super Arena, Saitama
Attendance: 14,800
27 August 2006
13:00
United States  Flag of the United States.svg11373Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Scoring by quarter: 27–23, 32–6, 29–20, 25–24
Pts: Johnson 18
Rebs: Bosh 9
Asts: Hinrich 5
Pts: Bogut 20
Rebs: Mackinnon 7
Asts: Bruton 4
Saitama Super Arena, Saitama
Attendance: 14,800
27 August 2006
17:00
France  Flag of France (lighter variant).svg6862Flag of Angola.svg  Angola
Scoring by quarter: 17–6, 17–18, 15–11, 19–27
Pts: Jeanneau 16
Rebs: Piétrus 7
Asts: Jeanneau 5
Pts: Almeida 13
Rebs: Gomes 7
Asts: Cipriano 7
Saitama Super Arena, Saitama
Attendance: 12,900
27 August 2006
20:00
Greece  Flag of Greece.svg9564Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
Scoring by quarter: 11–18, 30–18, 26–6, 28–22
Pts: Papaloukas 19
Rebs: Kakiouzis 7
Asts: Papaloukas 6
Pts: Wang S 16
Rebs: Yao 8
Asts: Chen, Zhu, Sun 2
Saitama Super Arena, Saitama
Attendance: 12,900

Quarterfinals

29 August 2006
16:30
Spain  Flag of Spain.svg8967Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania
Scoring by quarter: 28–11, 19–19, 18–12, 24–25
Pts: Gasol 25
Rebs: Gasol 9
Asts: Navarro, Rodríguez 3
Pts: Lavrinovič 17
Rebs: Kleiza 14
Asts: Kleiza 5
Saitama Super Arena, Saitama
Attendance: 8,700
29 August 2006
19:30
Argentina  Flag of Argentina.svg8358Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey
Scoring by quarter: 25–16, 18–7, 32–17, 8–18
Pts: Nocioni 21
Rebs: Delfino 8
Asts: Sánchez 6
Pts: Akyol 11
Rebs: Peker 6
Asts: Demirel 4
Saitama Super Arena, Saitama
Attendance: 8,700
30 August 2006
16:30
Greece  Flag of Greece.svg7356Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France
Scoring by quarter: 12–8, 22–16, 19–19, 20–13
Pts: Papadopoulos, Fotsis 14
Rebs: Diamantidis 8
Asts: Diamantidis 5
Pts: Gelabale 12
Rebs: Piétrus, Diaw, Turiaf 6
Asts: Gomis, Jeanneau, Piétrus, Diaw 2
30 August 2006
19:30
United States  Flag of the United States.svg8565Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
Scoring by quarter: 23–21, 17–18, 27–13, 18–13
Pts: Anthony 19
Rebs: Wade, Bosh 7
Asts: Paul 5
Pts: Okulaja, Nowitzki 15
Rebs: Okulaja, Nowitzki 9
Asts: Femerling 2

5th–8th classification

 
Classification roundFifth place
 
      
 
31 August
 
 
Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 84
 
2 September
 
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey (OT)95
 
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 56
 
31 August
 
Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France 64
 
Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France 75
 
 
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 73
 
Seventh place
 
 
3 September
 
 
Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 77
 
 
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 62

Semifinals

31 August 2006
16:30
Lithuania  Flag of Lithuania.svg8495 (OT)Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey
Scoring by quarter: 10–19, 17–4, 21–17, 27–35,  Overtime: 9–20
Pts: Songaila 17
Rebs: Lavrinovič 7
Asts: Lavrinovič 4
Pts: Kuqo 24
Rebs: Gönlüm 8
Asts: Arslan 5
31 August 2006
19:30
France  Flag of France (lighter variant).svg7573Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
Scoring by quarter: 17–16, 21–15, 15–26, 22–16
Pts: Gomis 17
Rebs: Gelabale, Diaw 8
Asts: Diaw 3
Pts: Nowitzki 29
Rebs: Okulaja 10
Asts: Okulaja 4

Seventh place playoff

3 September 2006
16:30
Lithuania  Flag of Lithuania.svg7762Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
Scoring by quarter: 30–17, 17–24, 11–13, 19–8
Pts: Lavrinovič 18
Rebs: Kleiza 7
Asts: Javtokas 3
Pts: Nowitzki 18
Rebs: Okulaja, Nowitzki 6
Asts: Roller 3

Fifth place playoff

2 September 2006
16:30
Turkey  Flag of Turkey.svg5664Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France
Scoring by quarter: 7–20, 13–15, 23–14, 13–15
Pts: Atsür 15
Rebs: Gönlüm 11
Asts: Atsür, Arslan, İlyasova, Gönlüm 1
Pts: Pietrus 12
Rebs: Pietrus 9
Asts: Diaw 3

Semifinals

1 September 2006
16:30
Greece  Flag of Greece.svg10195Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Scoring by quarter: 14–20, 31–21, 32–24, 24–30
Pts: Spanoulis 22
Rebs: Kakiouzis 6
Asts: Papaloukas 12
Pts: Anthony 27
Rebs: Howard 7
Asts: James 5
Saitama Super Arena, Saitama
Attendance: 17,000
1 September 2006
19:30
Spain  Flag of Spain.svg7574Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina
Scoring by quarter: 15–21, 25–17, 20–18, 15–18
Pts: Garbajosa 19
Rebs: Gasol 11
Asts: Navarro 5
Pts: Ginóbili 21
Rebs: Scola 8
Asts: Ginóbili 4
Saitama Super Arena, Saitama
Attendance: 17,000

Third place playoff

2 September 2006
19:30
United States  Flag of the United States.svg9681Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina
Scoring by quarter: 21–27, 29–22, 19–13, 27–19
Pts: Wade 32
Rebs: James 9
Asts: James 7
Pts: Scola 19
Rebs: Sánchez, Nocioni 6
Asts: Sánchez 6
Saitama Super Arena, Saitama
Attendance: 16,700

Final

3 September 2006
19:30
Greece  Flag of Greece.svg4770Flag of Spain.svg  Spain
Scoring by quarter: 12–18, 11–25, 11–11, 13–16
Pts: Kakiouzis 17
Rebs: Kakiouzis 9
Asts: Papaloukas, Diamantidis 3
Pts: Garbajosa, Navarro 20
Rebs: Jiménez 11
Asts: Garbajosa, Rodríguez 4
Saitama Super Arena, Saitama
Attendance: 18,500
Referees: Carl Jungebrand (FIN), Terry Moore (USA), Pablo Alberto Estévez (ARG)
Scene from the final. A member of Span's team is seen dunking the ball Basketball WC 2006 Final 7.jpg
Scene from the final. A member of Span's team is seen dunking the ball
Spain's Gold Medal ceremony Basketball WC 2006 Final 6.jpg
Spain's Gold Medal ceremony

Since the inaugural competition in 1950 the five competing countries for the title had always been two of Argentina, United States, Soviet Union, Brazil and Yugoslavia, one of which always being either United States or Yugoslavia. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Russia took its place in the finals of 1994 and 1998, and after the breakup of Yugoslavia, FR Yugoslavia took its place in the finals of 1998 and 2002. The 2006 final was the first and only one in which none of these five teams competed.

The final was an unexpectedly one-sided affair, with Spain dominating from the beginning and limiting Greece to just 47 points, fewer than the Greeks had scored in any single game in the tournament, and less than half what Greece had scored against the US in the semifinals. Spain won despite having lost power forward Pau Gasol, who was ultimately named the tournament's most valuable player, to injury in a semifinal match against Argentina.

Final standings

2006 FIBA World Championship final rankings. 2006 FIBA World Championship final rankings.png
2006 FIBA World Championship final rankings.
RankTeamRecord
1Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 9–0
2Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 8–1
3Flag of the United States.svg  United States 8–1
4Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 7–2
5Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France 6–3
6Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 6–3
7Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 5–4
8Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 5–4
9Flag of Angola.svg  Angola 3–3
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 2–4
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 2–4
Flag of Italy (2003-2006).svg  Italy 4–2
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 2–4
Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 2–4
Flag of Yugoslavia (1992-2003); Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (2003-2006).svg  Serbia and Montenegro 2–4
Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 2–4
17Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 1–4
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 1–4
Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon 2–3
Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico 2–3
21Flag of Panama.svg  Panama 0–5
Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar 0–5
Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal 0–5
Flag of Venezuela.svg  Venezuela 1–4

Awards

 2006 World Championship winner 
Flag of Spain.svg
Spain
First title
Most Valuable Player
Flag of Spain.svg Pau Gasol

All-Tournament Team

Leading scorers

No.PlayerTeam PPG
1
Yao Ming Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
25.3
2
Dirk Nowitzki Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
23.2
3
Pau Gasol Flag of Spain.svg  Spain
21.3
4
Carlos Arroyo Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico
21.2
5
Larry Ayuso Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico
21.2

Referees

For the World Championship, FIBA selected 40 professional referees.

Group A
  • Flag of Japan.svg Aibara, Nobuyasu
  • Flag of Iran.svg Avanessian, Heros
  • Flag of Australia (converted).svg Aylen, Michael
  • Flag of Morocco.svg Chlif, Abdellilah
  • Flag of Lithuania.svg Dovidavičius, Virginijus
  • Flag of Italy.svg Facchini, Fabio
  • Flag of Finland.svg Jungebrand, Carl
  • Flag of the United States.svg Moore, Terry Matthew
  • Flag of Uruguay.svg Trías Iglesias, Álvaro Darío
Group B
  • Flag of Mozambique.svg Muhimua Joao, Abreu
  • Flag of Yugoslavia (1992-2003); Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (2003-2006).svg Belošević, Ilija
  • Flag of Puerto Rico.svg Carrión, José Aníbal
  • Flag of Argentina.svg Chiti, Alejandro César
  • Flag of Lebanon.svg Noujaim, Rabah
  • Flag of Ukraine.svg Ryzhyk, Borys
  • Flag of Slovakia.svg Sudek, Petr
  • Flag of France (lighter variant).svg Viator, Eddie
  • Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Yang Maogong
Group C
  • Flag of Spain.svg Arteaga, Juan Carlos
  • Flag of Italy.svg Cerebuch, Guerrino
  • Flag of Argentina.svg Estévez, Pablo Alberto
  • Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Homsy, Mike Amir
  • Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg Mercedes Sánchez, Reynaldo Antonio
  • Flag of Japan.svg Miyatake, Yosuke
  • Flag of Croatia.svg Muhvić, Dubravko
  • Flag of Slovenia.svg Pukl, Saša
  • Flag of the United States.svg Rush, Eddie Fernanzo
  • Flag of Puerto Rico.svg Vázquez, Jorge
Group D
  • Flag of Israel.svg Bachar, Shmuel
  • Flag of Lithuania.svg Brazauskas, Romualdas
  • Flag of Australia (converted).svg Butler, Scott Jason
  • Flag of Venezuela.svg Delgado Casadiego, Daniel Alfredo
  • Flag of Japan.svg Hirahara, Yuji
  • Flag of Yugoslavia (1992-2003); Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (2003-2006).svg Jovčić, Milivoje
  • Flag of Brazil.svg Maranho, Cristiano Jesus
  • Flag of Spain.svg Martín Bertrán, José Antonio
  • Flag of Angola.svg Simão, Domingos Francisco

Sponsorship

McDonald's

References