Twelve basketball federations have submitted applications so far, including favorites China and Brazil.

The Russian Basketball Federation (RFB) hasn’t filed an application yet for a wild card for next year’s FIBA Basketball World Cup, RFB honorary president and FIBA Central Bureau member Sergei Chernov said Tuesday.

“We held a meeting of the Competitions Commission. All countries which plan to bid for wild cards should submit their applications by Oct. 30,” Chernov told Russia’s R-Sport news agency by telephone.

The official added that 12 nations have already tabled their bids, including China, Brazil, Italy and Germany.

“Russia hasn’t filed an official application yet,” he added.

China and Brazil, the heavyweights in Asia and South America who recently failed to win their respective continental championships, are considered top favorites in the wild card race.

Italy, following an impeccable 5-0 run in the first group stage at EuroBasket 2013 in Slovenia later faltered in playoffs and suffered defeat in a faceoff with Serbia for the last World Cup berth. Germany, playing without its major star Dirk Nowitzki, won only two games of five in pool play and failed to clinch second round. Germany is keen to reappear at the World Cup – formerly known as the FIBA World Championship – the tournament it has missed only once since 1994.

According to Chernov, FIBA’s Central Bureau will convene on Nov. 23-24 in Buenos Aires to consider the bids and shortlist the most likely contenders for four remaining spots in the Aug. 30 – Sept. 14, 2014 tournament, which will be held in Spain. The winners will be announced on Feb. 2, 2014 in Barcelona, and the draw ceremony will be held the next day.

The application fee hasn’t been set yet, added Chernov. “It will be equal for all bidders. In 2010, it was 500,000 euros, and this time it will probably be higher,” he said.

Chernov assumed that European countries would get no more than two wild cards. “I don’t think that Europe may be given three wild cards as was the case in the 2010 World Championship bidding,” Chernov said.

Russia prematurely exited EuroBasket 2013 after winning only one game in five outings in pool play – its worst finish at a major tournament in the post-Soviet era. In 2009, Russia placed seventh at EuroBasket in Poland – one spot short of the automatic qualification berth for 2010 World Championship, but later received a wild card along with Germany, Lithuania and Lebanon.