Stars to watch at the FIBA 3×3 Europe Cup 2026
Can the Dutch women go back-to-back? The Netherlands arrive as top seeds and defending champions, led by reigning Europe Cup MVP Noortje Driessen. They have not had everything their own way since winning in Copenhagen, losing their World Cup title in Warsaw, where they took bronze, before finishing third at last weekend’s Women’s Series Final in Shanghai.
Their Pool A meeting with Azerbaijan is a repeat of last year’s Europe Cup final, which the Dutch won 21-16. Victory in Antwerp would make them the first women’s team to retain the title since France won back-to-back crowns in 2018 and 2019.
Second seeds Spain have some recent history to settle in Pool B. They face Hungary on Friday, just three months after the Hungarians stunned them 21-12 at the World Cup in Warsaw. France, three-time Europe Cup champions, arrive with momentum of their own. Laetitia Guapo led them to the Women’s Series Final title in Shanghai last weekend and was named tournament MVP.
In the men’s draw, top seeds Serbia are led by world No.1 Strahinja Stojačić. Their Pool A meeting with hosts Belgium on Saturday brings another chapter in a familiar rivalry, with Stojačić and Belgian talisman Dennis Donkor having met repeatedly on the World Tour.
The Netherlands, seeded second, have Worthy de Jong, part of the team that won Paris 2024 gold. They meet Spain, the 2025 world champions, in a heavyweight Pool B clash on Friday.
But perhaps the standout pool match comes in Pool C, where defending champions Lithuania meet newly crowned world champions Latvia. Lithuania, led by reigning Europe Cup MVP Ignas Vaitkus, beat their Baltic neighbours 21-17 in last year’s final in Copenhagen. Latvia turned the tables at the World Cup in Warsaw, eliminating Lithuania in the quarter-finals on their way to a first world title. World Cup MVP Kārlis Lasmanis, alongside Nauris Miezis, gives Latvia a core that has now won Olympic, World, and European gold.
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