It may not come as a great surprise, but the USA is the first team to book its place in the men’s basketball tournament at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. The 14-times Olympic gold medallists confirmed their presence at the first Olympic Games in South America by winning the FIBA World Cup on Sunday (14 September), beating Serbia 129-92 in Madrid.

The team commanded by Mike Krzyzewski, or ‘Coach K’, became the first to win back-to-back world championships since 2002, living up to their tag of favourites by winning all nine games by more than 20 points to take their fifth world title, equalling the record held by Yugoslavia.

The USA men’s team is unbeaten since the 2006 world championships, having accumulated 63 consecutive victories.

Kyrie Irving, the top scorer in the final with 26 points, was voted the tournament’s most valuable player. His USA teammate James Harden second top scored with 23, as the USA netted 15 three-pointers. For Serbia, Nemanja Bjelica and Nikola Kalinic shot 18 points each.

“This is by far the biggest accomplishment in my life so far,” said Irving, who plays for Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA. “This is one of the greatest moments in my life. I did this with guys I can call my brothers for the rest of my life.

“You’re part of something bigger than yourself. I was willing to do anything that Coach K wanted. I just wanted to take every advantage I could playing with these guys and learning from these guys.”

Twelve teams will compete at the Rio 2016 men’s Olympic basketball tournament, with qualification also possible via the five continental qualifying tournaments in 2015, and the International Olympic Qualifying Tournament in 2016.

Brazil, as host nation, may have their place guaranteed through an invitation by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).

The first women’s basketball team to confirm its presence at Rio 2016 will be known at the start of next month, when the women's world championship is held in Turkey between 27 September and 5 October.

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.