The FIBA U17 World Champion­ship will field 16 teams for the first time in the week-long tournament which will seek to answer the ques­tion: can anyone stop Team USA?

Since the event’s inception in 2010, the US has won both editions of the bi-annual championship. Not only has the No1 ranked country in FIBA won gold on both occasions, it has yet to lose even a single con­test in the tournament, going 5-0 in group play each time.

The past two US teams boasted standouts such as Bradley Beal – now in the NBA with the Washing­ton Wizards – and Jabari Parker – recently drafted second overall by the Milwaukee Bucks.

This year’s team will not lack for talent either, featuring four of the top five class of 2015 high school prospects in ESPN’s top 100 – all five-star recruits and headlined at the top by Ivan Rabb.

Trying to challenge the US in Group A will be Greece, Angola and the Philippines, who along with six other teams are making their first appearance, including the UAE.

UAE, ranked 83rd in FIBA, has played at only one Asia youth cham­pionship since 2000 – the 2008 U18 FIBA Asia Championship.

While most of the other teams have a majority of players aged 17, the UAE’s average age is 16, includ­ing two 15 year olds on the roster.

Height is also a concern, with no player standing taller than 1.82m.

Joining the UAE in Group C is a strong trio consisting of seventh-ranked Spain, 18th-ranked Puerto Rico and 20th-ranked Italy.

Argentina lead the pack of China, Egypt and Serbia in Group D.

Despite being one of the interna­tional powerhouses at the senior level, Argentina’s U17 teams has underwhelmed in the past two edi­tions. In 2010, they went 1-4 before improving to 3-2 in 2012.

Lastly, Group B holds the two other teams with a previous medal in this year’s tournament aside from the US.

Australia were outdone by Team USA in 2012, losing their only group play game and final to the Ameri­cans.

Canada captured bronze with a win over Lithuania in 2010 and went 3-2 in 2012 before falling vic­tim to the US in the first round of the knockout stage.

Rounding out the group are France and Japan.

The tournament runs from Au­gust 8-16 and will be played at Al Ahli and Al Shabab clubs.

The fi­nal will be played at the Hamdan Sports Complex.