WILD CARD TEAMS FOR JAPAN 2006

 Four Wild Card Teams (FIBA invited teams)
  1. Italy (FIBA EUROPE zone)
  2. Puerto Rico (FIBA AMERICAS zone)
  3. Serbia & Montenegro (FIBA EUROPE zone)
  4. Turkey (FIBA EUROPE zone)

 Information about the 4 Wild Cards (FIBA invited nations)
  The four teams invited by FIBA as wild cards were decided at the FIBA Central Board
  on 26/27 November 2005 in Rome, Italy. FIBA Secretary General Patrick Baumann is
  responsible for making the proposal. The FIBA Central Board then made the final
  decision.
  Note: The FIBA Central Board is the general meeting where 20 members and three
  ex-officio members meet twice yearly. The Board establishes the Internal
  Regulations and assigns the organization of all world championships. 

 The criteria for the Wild Cards
  1. In order to be invited the team must have participated in the FIBA Zone
      Qualifying Championship.
  2. There can be a maximum of three teams from any one FIBA Zone. 
 
  Together with the above two criteria, FIBA shall take into consideration the following
  aspects:

 Sporting Aspects
       - Popularity of basketball in the country 
       - Quality and sporting results of the national team of the country 
       - Quality of work by the National Federation

 Economic Aspects 
       - Involvement of local television and/or competitions in domestic and
         international basketball 
       - Importance of country to FIBA's marketing and television partners
       - Importance of country to the Organizers of the World Championship