Venezuela and Argentina are the latest teams to qualify for the men’s basketball tournament at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) has confirmed.

Both teams booked their places in Brazil by reaching the final of the FIBA ​​Americas Championship, in Mexico City, on Saturday (12 September). Underdogs Venezuela then shocked the basketball world by beating Argentina 76-71 for their first continental title.

Argentina celebrate second place in Mexico and qualifiying for their fourth consecutive Olympic Games (Getty Images/Hector Vivas)

Venezuela confirmed their place in Rio after a nail-biting 79-78 win against Canada in the semi-finals. It will be only their second appearance a men’s Olympic basketball tournament, following their participation at Barcelona 1992.

Argentina – who won a shock gold medal at the Athens 2004 Games, and Bronze at beijing 2008 – overcame hosts Mexico 78-70  in the other semi-final to rubber stamp their spot in Brazil next year.

Follow the race to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games

Rio2016.com is not an absolute authority on qualification for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, which is an ongoing process. Final places will only be confirmed in July 2016 (for the Olympic Games) and August 2016 (for the Paralympic Games). The qualification systems are defined by each sport’s respective International Federation and the International Olympic Committee or International Paralympic Committee, and are subject to change. When an athlete or team wins a quota place for their nation, the final decision on whether this ‘slot’ is used and which athletes are sent is taken by the respective National Olympic Committee or National Paralympic Committee (NOC or NPC). Even when athletes win a ‘nominal’ place for themselves, NOCs/NPCs may have to decide who to send if the number of qualified athletes from one country exceeds the quota.