FIBA Europe's Executive Committee voted to expand the tournament from 16 to 24 teams, next year. The decision, made on Sunday in Istanbul, comes after the initial qualification campaign concluded last month, with Britain heading a list of five teams to book their ticket to Lithuania

The tournament had been due to expand to 24 teams in 2013, but FIBA Europe accepted a request from the Lithuanian federation to make the move early.

"The expansion is meant to follow the rapid development of European Basketball," said FIBA Europe secretary general Nar Zanolin.

"Proof for this development can be found at the FIBA World Championship where nine of the 10 participating European teams advanced from the preliminary round to participate in the eight-finals."

FIBA Europe are yet to determine how the additional eight teams will be selected.

In addition to the five teams who qualified this summer, the 10 teams playing at the World Championship are guaranteed entry, and the one remaining place was due to be filled via the additional qualifying round - until now a six-team tournament - next year.

However, that process will now have to be reviewed with nine places up for grabs rather than one.

Britain can however be satisfied that their qualification success will still bring rewards - even if the door is open to those who failed this summer.

Britain won Group B with a 6-2 record, and that will earn them a top seed for the tournament draw, something that could be all the more important in what will now be a larger group stage.

The impressive displays from Chris Finch's men also strengthened their case for inclusion at the 2012 London Olympics as they continue to try to convince FIBA to rubber-stamp their entry.