FIBA (International Basketball Federation) president Horacio Muratore announces China as the host country of the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup during a ceremony in Tokyo, capital of Japan, Aug. 7, 2015.

China was awarded the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup, defeating the Philippines in a 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup host announcement ceremony in Tokyo on Friday.

China’s hero Yao Ming was at the scene to promote China’s bid while his Filipino counterpart Manny Pacquiao was on hand to support the Philippines.

The 2019 tournament will feature 32 teams for the first time.

It will be the first World Cup played under FIBA's new qualifying process, which begins in November 2017 and last 18 months.

In 2019, China will host the event spread across eight cities — Beijing, Nanjing, Suzhou, Wuhan, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Foshan and Dongguan. 

Zhang Jiandong (front C), vice mayor of Beijing and chairman of China 2019 bid committee, speaks after FIBA (International Basketball Federation) president Horacio Muratore announced China as the host country of the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup during a ceremony in Tokyo, capital of Japan, Aug. 7, 2015. Chief of FIBA announced here Friday that China will host the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup.