As one of the four hosts of the tournament, along with Israel, Romania and Turkey, Finland were allowed to select a partner federation.

The format was implemented at EuroBasket 2015, with FIBA claiming the partnerships assisted in ticket sales and also forged stronger relationships between two nations.

Ari Tammivaara, director of EuroBasket 2017 in Finland, claimed the agreement was based upon the enthusiasm that Icelandic fans show in traveling to support their team.

The example of their tournament debut in Berlin was cited, along with the estimated 30,000 Icelandic supporters who watched the European Football Championships in France this summer, popularising a distinctive 'thunderclap' chant.

"We are extremely excited about our partnership with Iceland, we are welcoming the Icelandic fans with open arms in Helsinki," Tammivaara said.

"Both Finnish and Icelandic fans are known for their unconditional support of their national teams, for their positive energy and joyfulness.

"It’s easy to picture Helsinki being a feel-good place to be during FIBA EuroBasket 2017."

Finland have also been praised by FIBA for their travelling fans in recent years, with around 10,000 supporters from the nation believed to have attended the 2014 Basketball World Cup in Spain.

They are now readying themselves to host group matches at EuroBasket 2017, with Iceland, who were beaten in all five of their matches two years ago, set to travel to face their Nordic rivals.

"Our fans are excited to experience EuroBasket once again and were right away hopeful to go to our Nordic friends in Helsinki when we qualified," said Hannes Jonsson, President of the Icelandic Basketball Federation and a FIBA Europe Board member.

"Now that dream is confirmed and we have felt a great interest for the upcoming adventure next fall.

"It's our hope that now the whole Nordic family and basketball fans will gather in Finland and enjoy the positive and family friendly atmosphere that the Finnish and Icelandic fans have created in recent years and create a real basketball festival during EuroBasket in Helsinki.

"Basketball has been growing in the Nordic countries in the past years and now the next big step has been taken with Finland hosting EuroBasket and Iceland joining them, which is historical for Icelandic basketball and sport in general in Iceland."

The three remaining host nations are expected to announce their partner federations in the build-up to the draw on November 22, which will take place in Istanbul.

The Turkish city will host the knockout stage at the Sinan Erdem Dome, with the tournament scheduled to run from August 31 to September 17.