MADRID (Spain) – The race for FIBA 3×3 World Tour spots continues in Spain as the first-ever FIBA 3×3 Madrid Challenger 2026 brings a loaded field to the Pabellon Amaya Valdemoro in Alcobendas, Madrid, on October 3-4, with three coveted FIBA 3×3 World Tour Manama tickets on the line. As the 26th Challenger of the season, Madrid marks another crucial opportunity for some of the Pro Circuit’s leading teams to turn Challenger success into a place on the World Tour.

Big Names Converge

The Madrid field features a collection of established 3×3 basketball powerhouses, led by top-seeded Ub (SRB) and second-ranked Liman (SRB). Liman arrive with serious momentum after claiming their third Challenger win of the season at Mataró, adding another banner to a campaign that has also already included two FIBA 3×3 World Tour victories.

Baskets Bonn (GER), currently fourth overall in the FIBA 3×3 World Tour standings, have also enjoyed a standout campaign with three FIBA 3×3 World Tour stop wins and three Challenger victories to their name. They will face strong competition from Skyliners (GER), Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy (MGL) and DeQing (CHN), all of whom have already captured Challenger banners this season.

The Spanish contingent adds another layer to the tournament, with 15th-ranked Fuengirola (ESP) and 19th-ranked Barcelona (ESP) looking to make the most of home-court conditions. Barcelona have already won a Challenger this season, while Bordeaux (FRA) complete the list of big name contenders.

Star Power Galore

Madrid will also feature a host of established 3×3 basketball stars. Ub’s Strahinja Stojacic headlines the players list, with the Serbian star set to lead one of the tournament’s most favored teams. Liman will counter with Stefan Milivojevic, while Baskets Bonn can call on the athletic Fabian Giessmann.

Stefan Kojic brings experience and perimeter scoring ability to Skyliners, while Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy will have veteran playmaker and FIBA 3×3 World Cup champion Nauris Miezis in their ranks. DeQing will look to another World Cup winner, Francis Lacis, with Fuengirola relying on Isaac Mayo and Barcelona on Jordi Juanola. Bordeaux will also have a proven performer in Alex Vialaret, giving the French side another weapon in a field where individual matchups could prove decisive.

Full Seeding List

1. Ub (SRB)
2. Liman (SRB)
3. Baskets Bonn (GER)
4. Skyliners (GER)
5. Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy (MGL)
6. DeQing (CHN)
7. Fuengirola (ESP)
8. Taipei WanBao (TPE)
9. Barcelona (ESP)
10. Bordeaux (FRA)
11. Liberec DEKSTONE (CZE)
12. Warsaw (POL)
13. Alexandria (EGY)
14. Diadema (BRA)
15. San Salvador (ESA)
16. Dubai (UAE)

Qualifying Draw

Qualifying Draw A: Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy (MGL), Warsaw (POL), Alexandria (EGY)
Qualifying Draw B: Barcelona (ESP), Bordeaux (FRA), San Salvador (ESA)

Main Draw

Pool A: Ub (SRB), Liberec DEKSTONE (CZE), Diadema (BRA)
Pool B: Liman (SRB), Taipei WanBao (TPE), Dubai (UAE)
Pool C: Baskets Bonn (GER), Fuengirola (ESP), QD A
Pool D: Skyliners (GER), DeQing (CHN), QD B

Road to Manama

With three tickets to FIBA 3×3 World Tour Manama 2026 available, every game in Madrid will carry significant weight. Madrid’s debut as a Challenger host city gives teams another chance to make a late-season push, while established contenders will be looking to add another banner and strengthen their position on the road to the FIBA 3×3 World Tour Rio de Janiero Final 2026.

With elite teams, proven stars and World Tour berths at stake, Madrid is set for two days of high-level 3×3 basketball in the exciting and intense Challenger season.

Stay Connected

Follow all the latest action from the FIBA 3×3 World Tour throughout the 2026 season by visiting the official World Tour website, where you can find the latest news, team standings, player statistics and everything you need to follow the Race to the Final. Fans can also keep track of the Event Calendar and the latest FIBA 3×3 Individual and Federation Rankings as teams and players continue their push toward the season finale.

Want to learn more about 3×3 basketball? Explore the official FIBA 3×3 Rules to understand the unique fast-paced format of the game, or discover the FIBA 3×3 Competition Structure to see how the discipline’s global pathway connects grassroots events, professional tours and world-class international competitions.

FIBA

Choi Hee-am, chairman of the Hongcheon Challenger Organizing Committee, is drawing a big picture.

NH Nonghyup Bank FIBA 3×3 Hongcheon Challenger 2026, held at the Hongcheon K Convention Center in Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon State since the 18th, has led to success and success.

In 2027, we are also preparing to hold a world tour, which can be called the FIBA 3×3 highest level competition. At this time, Chairman Choi Hee-am is drawing a new big picture.

The Hongcheon Challenger has been held for four consecutive years this year. World-class players gathered in Hongcheon and played a hot game and spent two days and one night. In addition, Hongcheon recorded one win and one loss, and did not make the main draw, but achieved a valuable victory.

Chairman Choi Hee-am said, “In the meantime, Korea’s 3×3 team has participated in these competitions and has not been able to use much energy. This time, I prepared well at the sports meeting and I think I got a good result,” he said.

“Didn’t the world’s No. 1 team lose this tournament. That’s why we have to do 3×3. In this sport, being strong is not strong, being weak is not weak. Since it is a sport that scores 21 points in 10 minutes, there seem to be many variables in which a team that is good at rhythm once wins. It is also an optimized sport for us. “Even if you are small, you can be internationally competitive if you are fast and good at shooting,” he added. “I once again confirmed that I have the next homework to expand the base and create a stage where ordinary students can play as much as they want.”

The Hongcheon Challenger has now become a competition where FIBA also sends great trust. In particular, FIBA supervisors, who have visited Hongcheon in the last three years, have great trust to simplify various procedures.

Chairman Choi Hee-am said, “The power of the Hongcheon-gun administrative organization was great, led by Governor Shin Young-jae. And it was also possible because Congress provided a good budget. In fact, Hongcheon is a small provincial city. Therefore, it will not be so free on the budget. In order for us to develop in the future, we need to receive state funding through Gangwon-do and steadily prepare a budget through another path. Only then can it be further developed and wider than it is now. We are currently holding 3×3 competitions centered on Hongcheon-gun, but we are also thinking about drawing with various cities such as Chuncheon and Wonju in the future.”

“As a result, Hongcheon Challenger has received good reviews and has been performing well for four consecutive years, which is possible because the military and sports association provide great help.” In addition, it is necessary to actively host general competitions and develop together,” he added.

I can’t be satisfied here. In the end, more active interest and investment are needed for the development of Hongcheon Challenger as well as 3×3 in Korea. Chairman Choi Hee-am said, “3×3 is a sport that does not cost much. Aren’t professional sports so large that most large companies have to operate them. That’s not the case with 3×3. It is a sport that the backbone of Korea’s industry, such as small and medium-sized companies, can join at any time. I hope they will be very interested,” he said. “Personally, I hope the game industry will also be interested in 3×3. The game industry is basically imaginative. The same goes for 3×3. “I believe that if the game industry, imagination and creativity of 3×3 come together, synergy can be created,” he said.

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KXO has recently actively communicated with Sono as well as Seoul and Gangwon Province. It was an effort for active interest and investment mentioned above. Chairman Choi Hee-am said, “I understand that Chairman Park Geon-yeon and Chairman Shin Eun-seop talked with Sono. We are planning to hold a world tour next year. Therefore, I delivered the contents of what I was doing with Hongcheon-gun, and I am also drawing a new big picture that is different from the world tour. Of course, I’m at the stage of imagination, but I think it’s good to invite North Korean and Russian teams. There was a player named Lee Myung-hoon in the past, and no one knows how North Korean basketball has developed since that era. Since Chairman Kim Jong-un likes basketball, I think it would be okay to communicate with him (laughs). That doesn’t mean many people need to come. There are at most four or five people. I don’t think the political issue will be big either,” he said.

Of course, the biggest task in planning and implementing various plans is the budget. It may be difficult for Hongcheon to handle the upcoming competitions alone. That’s why I had a conversation with Sono. Sono seems to be thinking a lot, too. I hope that it will create a good atmosphere overall and produce decent results.”

KXO, and Hongcheon are developing at a rapid pace every year. Now, we are looking beyond the Challenger to the World Tour. In the words of a KXO official, FIBA sent a positive signal to Hongcheon’s world tour. In fact, it is possible to hold the event if it is prepared internally well.

Even so, you shouldn’t just “all-in” the world tour. In the end, it is important to hold steady 3×3 competitions, large-scale competitions such as world tours and challengers, as well as various competitions in which domestic players can play as much as they want.

Chairman Choi Hee-am said, “We are thinking about holding a Challenger in Seoul as well as a world tour. The venue is considering the university district. Apart from the world tour, he is serious about the Challenger in Seoul. A year ago, I had the experience of opening a light quest in Sinchon. Of course, compared to Challengers and other competitions, it was small, so there were not so many things to see. There was only one court and complaints in the commercial district, he said. “As much as I’ve experienced it once, I think I can do better next time. To be honest, I want to hold a competition in Gwanghwamun. But the weekend competition is not easy in reality because of the rally. I made contact with the Seoul Metropolitan Government once. It is not easy to hold a large competition like the World Tour, but I think I am interested in the Challenger. I am thinking of various places even if it is not necessarily Gwanghwamun. Chairman Park Gun-yeon is suffering a lot,” he explained.

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[Hongcheon = MK Sports Reporter]