RIO DE JANEIRO (Brazil) – With the FIBA 3×3 World Tour Rio de Janeiro Final 2026 set to bring together 14 teams in the Brazilian city on December 12-13, every game across the remaining stops of the 2026 calendar could prove crucial as teams battle for their place at the biggest event of the year.

The Top 10 teams in the FIBA 3×3 World Tour 2026 standings will earn direct qualification to the Rio de Janeiro Final 2026 Main Draw. Those teams will be confirmed either after the FIBA 3×3 World Tour Hong Kong 2026, or earlier if their qualification becomes statistically certain.

The race does not stop there, though. Three additional teams will qualify to the Rio de Janeiro Final 2026 based on the highest number of wins in Pro Events Main Draw games after the last Stop of the season, excluding teams that have already secured a place among the Top 10.

Of those three teams, the best-ranked team will be allocated directly to the Rio de Janeiro Final 2026 Main Draw, while the other two will enter the Play-In, giving them one final route into the competition.

One additional spot in the Play-In will be reserved for the LOC Wild Card, completing the 14-team field.

If teams are tied in the relevant qualification criteria, the tie-breakers will be applied in the following order: Season Win Percentage, followed by Team Ranking.

That means every victory matters. With the final qualification places potentially coming down to the closing stages of the FIBA 3×3 World Tour 2026 season, teams will have everything to play for as the road to the Rio de Janeiro Final 2026 reaches its climax.

Fourteen teams. One Final. One FIBA 3×3 World Tour champion.

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

MIES (Switzerland) – The stage is set for the FIBA 3×3 World Tour Final 2025, which will take place in Manama, Bahrain, on November 21-22. The best 3×3 teams on the planet will battle for the ultimate crown to close out another spectacular pro circuit season.

Before the lights shine bright in Bahrain, though, here’s a breakdown of how the 14 teams will qualify for the grand finale and how the tournament draw will be structured.

Qualification Process

A total of 14 teams will earn their ticket to Manama through a combination of World Tour standings and Pro Event performance.

The top 10 teams in the World Tour Standings after WT Bucharest (8–9 November) will qualify directly to the Main Draw.

Once it becomes statistically certain that a team cannot be overtaken, their qualification will be confirmed.

Teams Already Qualified via Standings

As of this update, seven of the 10 spots from the World Tour Standings have already been secured. The following teams have officially booked their tickets to Manama:

1. Ub (SRB)

2. Amsterdam RABOBANK (NED)

3. Miami (USA)

4. Chongming (CHN)

5. Liman (SRB)

6. Toulouse (FRA)

7. Raudondvaris Hoptrans (LTU)

In addition, the Host Wild Card will go to Seef (BRN), completing eight confirmed slots for now.

The teams in contention for the remaining three slots to qualify through the WT standings are:

• Riffa (BRN)

• Hangzhou (CHN)

• Vienna (AUT)

• Skyliners (GER)

• Ulaanbaatar (MGL).

Their final ranking will depend on results in the last WT event, particularly WT Bucharest.

Qualification via Pro Event Performance

After the standings are finalized, the next three teams with the highest number of wins in Pro Crcuit events —- excluding the top 10 teams from the World Tour Standings —- will be added on 10 November to fill the ‘performance slots.’

Among these three performance slots:

The team with the most Pro Circuit wins will advance directly to the Main Draw.

The remaining two will compete in the Qualifying Draw together with Seef for one final Main Draw berth.

As of now, teams in the running for these performance slots include:

All except Partizan and Lugano will compete in Bucharest, which means these teams’ final win totals, which also determines their chances to qualify, could shift significantly after the event.

Should there be a tie after WT Bucharest, teams will be separated by season win percentage, and then by overall team ranking.

Seeding and Draw

The official seeding will take place on Wednesday, 13 November, once all qualifying teams are confirmed. The draw will determine the pools for the Main Draw and the matchups for the Qualifying Draw. This will ensure balance and competitiveness from the very first game.

12 teams will compete in the Main Draw, which will be composed of top 10 teams from final WT standings, one from top performance slot team and one from the Qualifying Draw winner.

Manama Pinnacle

The World Tour Final represents the pinnacle of the FIBA 3×3 2025 season, bringing together the year’s most consistent and dominant teams. Manama, which has become a favorite destination on the 3×3 calendar, will once again provide a world-class stage for the game’s biggest stars to compete for glory.

Expect high drama, highlight plays and the signature energy that makes the FIBA 3×3 World Tour one of the most exciting properties in global sport.

FIBA

BIRMINGHAM (United States) – Miami (USA) saved their best for last to capture the inaugural FIBA 3×3 FISE Birmingham Challenger 2026, defeating Élancourt (FRA) 21-15 in the Final to claim their first Challenger title of the season. The victory also saw Miami punch their ticket to FIBA 3×3 World Tour Debrecen 2026, alongside runner-up Élancourt and third-place Raudondvaris Hoptrans (LTU).

The result capped a memorable first edition of the FISE Birmingham Challenger, part of the Festival International des Sports Extrêmes (FISE) 2026, with Miami overcoming a deep field and a number of the season’s highest-ranked teams to emerge on top.

The Winner

Miami delivered when it mattered most, navigating an unbeaten run through the Main Draw before taking down Toronto (CAN), Marijampole MANTINGA (LTU) and Élancourt on Day 2.

The Americans opened with a 19-16 victory over Élancourt before following it up with a 20-16 win against Shinjuku SS (JPN) to sweep Pool A. James Parrott then took over in the Quarter-Finals, erupting for 14 points as Miami eliminated Toronto 21-14.

Parrott continued to deliver in the Semi-Finals, scoring seven points as Miami defeated Marijampole MANTINGA 21-15 to reach the Final.

Parrott was the driving force behind Miami’s title run and was rewarded with the MVP award after producing the tournament’s best overall statistical profile.

He finished with 41 total points, nine 2-pointers made, 12 key assists, 10 drives, five dunks and five blocks. Parrott also led the tournament in total player value (60.4) and highlights (32), while recording one triple-five performance.

His 14-point explosion in Miami’s Quarter-Final victory over Toronto proved particularly decisive, before he added another seven points in the Semi-Final to help send Miami through to the titular contest.

The Runner-up

Élancourt produced one of the tournament’s biggest runs, fighting through Pool A before eliminating Princeton (USA) and Raudondvaris Hoptrans to reach the Final.

After falling to Miami in their opening game, Élancourt bounced back with a dramatic 22-21 overtime victory over Shinjuku SS, with Gauthier Denis hitting the game-winning 2-pointer.

They then stunned Princeton 21-13 in the Quarter-Finals before edging Raudondvaris 21-19 in a thrilling Semi-Finals matchup. Lorenzo Thirouard-Samson led the French charge with 29 points across the tournament as Élancourt secured their place at the World Tour Debrecen.

The Final

Miami and Élancourt met again in the championship game, but this time Miami controlled the contest.

Miami raced into a 6-3 lead before Élancourt fought back to make it 12-11 midway through the game. Miami responded with another decisive push, with Henry Caruso knocking down a 2-pointer to stretch the lead to 18-13 with less than three minutes remaining.

Élancourt could not produce another comeback as Miami closed out the 21-15 victory to become the first-ever FISE Birmingham Challenger champions.

The Reward

Miami, Élancourt and Raudondvaris Hoptrans all earned qualification to FIBA 3×3 World Tour Debrecen 2026, rewarding their runs in Birmingham with a place on one of the 3×3 basketball’s most iconic stages.

For Miami, the qualification comes with their first Challenger title of the 2026 season, while Élancourt’s second-place finish marks their best result on the Pro Circuit this year. Raudondvaris completed the qualification trio after reaching the Semi-Finals and finishing third.

Final Standings:

1. Miami (USA) – qualified to WT Debrecen
2. Élancourt (FRA) – qualified to WT Debrecen
3. Raudondvaris Hoptrans (LTU) – qualified to WT Debrecen
4. Marijampole MANTINGA (LTU)
5. Princeton (USA)

Top Scorers:

1. James Parrott (Miami) – 41 pts
2. Tautvydas Kliučinykas (Marijampole MANTINGA) – 33 pts
3. Lorenzo Thirouard-Samson (Élancourt) – 29 pts
4. Riley Battin (Miami) – 27 pts
5. Bastien Pinault (Élancourt) – 27 pts

What’s Next

The Challenger circuit continues next weekend with the FIBA 3×3 Singapore Challenger 2026, set for August 15-16, as teams continue to battle for their place on the World Tour.

Meanwhile, the FIBA 3×3 World Tour returns to action at WT Lausanne on August 14-15, with the world’s best 3×3 basketball teams back on the WT stage as the 2026 season opens its second half.

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

BERLIN (Germany) – The first meeting of the FIBA Central Board in 2026 took place in the German capital, in conjunction with the Draw for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026, and the FIBA Hall of Fame Class of 2026 induction ceremony.

The meeting proceedings commenced with an opening speech by European Olympic Committees President and IOC Executive Board member Spyros Capralos.

In addition to awarding the hosting rights for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2030 and the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2031, the following topics were discussed:

FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026

The Central Board was presented with reports on the successful implementation of the four FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 Qualifying Tournaments, that were hosted in Wuhan, China; Lyon-Villeurbanne, France; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Istanbul, Türkiye.

A full update on the status of preparations for September’s World Cup, including Tuesday’s Draw, was provided. More than 80 percent of tickets for the final weekend of the tournament have already been sold.

Women’s National Team Calendar 2027-2031

The Central Board approved the Women’s National Team Calendar 2027-2031, following the recommendations of the Competitions Commission and a consultation round with FIBA Regional Offices.

In addition to the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2030 dates decided last year (November 26 to December 8, 2030), the newly approved calendar includes the following dates:

• FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2030 Qualifying Tournaments: March 10-20, 2030

• FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2030 Pre-Qualifying Tournaments: August 21-28, 2028

• FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournaments: February 6 -16, 2028

• Women’s Olympic Basketball Tournament Los Angeles 2028: July 12-30, 2028

The Central Board also ratified scheduling the four FIBA Women’s Continental Cups of 2029 in June-July of that year, and the FIBA Women’s EuroBasket 2031 in December of that year.

FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027

Window 2 of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Qualifiers wrapped up successfully in all Regions in March, while Window 3 games, set for June-July, will confirm all teams that will qualify for the second round.

The Central Board agreed to limit to two the number of warm-up games during Window 4 of the Qualifiers.

Concerning the current situation in the Middle East, the FIBA Central Board received a comprehensive report by the Organizing Committee of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027. With 16 months to go, preparations remain well on track and FIBA is confident that a safe, secure and very successful event can take place in Qatar next year.

Olympic Games 2028

The Central Board was presented with a status update on the ongoing preparations for the 2028 Olympic Games, in Los Angeles, following the visit of a FIBA delegation to the Intuit Dome and nearby facilities during the NBA All-Star Game last February.

FIBA U17 World Cups

The Central Board received a report on the preparations for the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup that will take place in Istanbul, Türkiye from June 27 to July 5, 2026, as well as the FIBA U17 Women’s Basketball World Cup that is scheduled for July 11-19, 2026 in Brno, Czechia. Both events are part of FIBA’s innovative multi-year hosting model for youth events in cooperation with the Turkish and Czech national federations.

Official Basketball Rules changes

The Central Board approved the changes to the Official Basketball Rules proposed by the FIBA Rules Advisory Group, which comprises representatives of coaches, players, referees, and experts, including the following modifications:

• Instant Replay: the addition of the possibility to review, at any time during a game, a goaltending or basket interference violation after a committed foul and during the last two minutes of a game, whether a throw-in foul is committed.

• A more precise definition of continuous movement and the act of shooting, to address situations whereby a player tries to artificially enter into an act of shooting situation when fouled, either in transition or half-court offence.

• Introducing two types of technical fouls, according to their nature and severity level, with one counting towards game disqualification and the other not.

• Introducing the notion of Disruptive and Flagrant fouls instead of Unsportsmanlike fouls.

Valid as of October 1, the detailed changes will be published in the coming weeks.

Club Competitions

Full updates were delivered on preparations for the upcoming Final Four tournament in Badalona, Spain that will crown the champion of the Basketball Champions League’s 10th season.

The Central Board also reviewed the BCL Americas Final Four which came to a successful close on Sunday with Boca Juniors being proclaimed 2025-26 champions in Buenos Aires, and the launch of the Youth BCL Americas, as well as updates on the Road to BAL 2026, season 6 of the Basketball Africa League which is set to conclude in May, and the FIBA Asia competitions.

The Central Board also received an update on the progress regarding the launch of a new FIBA-ΝΒΑ League in Europe.

Finally, reports were delivered on the EuroLeague Women 2025-26 season which concluded on Sunday with Fenerbahce Opet lifting the trophy, and the EuroCup Women that came to a close weeks earlier with Mersin as champions, as well as reports on the 2025 seasons of the FIBA Women’s Basketball League Africa and FIBA Women’s Basketball League Asia, which continue to grow in line with FIBA’s Women in Basketball strategy.

3×3

The Central Board was given updates on the 3×3 National Team competitions, highlighting the success of the 2026 Champions Cup in Bangkok and the upcoming FIBA 3×3 World Cup scheduled in Warsaw, Poland, from June 1-7.

On the Professional Circuit side, a recap of the 2025 season of the World Tour and its Qualifiers which included events in 38 host cities in 22 territories, alongside a 15-event Women’s Series. An outlook for the 2026 season, which will start in Utsunomiya on April 25-26, was provided during the meeting.

Empower National Federations

FIBA Plus projects were delivered in six countries (Uzbekistan, Jordan, Bhutan, Dominican Republic, New Zealand, Solomon Islands) during the first quarter of 2026. Meanwhile pilot projects for new courses named ‘Start Coaching’ and aimed at schoolteachers will launch in Bulgaria and India in late April, in collaboration with the International School Sport Federation.

Preparations have begun for the FIBA Plus Youth Athlete Development Camps (3×3), which was successfully launched last year. In 2026, the camps will take place in Americas (Caribbean – George Town, Cayman Islands), in Africa (Dakar, Senegal), in Oceania (Gold Coast, Australia) and in Central Asia.

The Board was also informed of the successful launch of the FIBA Academy Leaders Program, which got underway with 25 participants and has already held two on-site sessions, in Doha and Miami. The next on-site session is set to take place in Geneva in August, whilst online sessions are ongoing.

Gender Eligibility

Following the issuance of the IOC policy on the protection of the female category, the Central Board confirmed that FIBA will follow the IOC policy for Olympic Games and the Youth Olympic Games, awaiting further guidance from the IOC on the practical, legal, and operational aspects of implementation.

Regarding FIBA Competitions, in its December 2024 meeting the FIBA Central Board decided to extend the review process for adopting a formal transgender eligibility policy by two years.

During this period, FIBA is collecting basketball-specific data and transgender-related evidence to further evaluate the matter. A FIBA Gender Eligibility Committee, composed of medical and legal experts, is set to report back to the Central Board with recommendations at the start of 2027. Until then, FIBA is not entertaining any transgender eligibility requests.

Other Matters

Following the recommendation of the IOC to lift restrictions on the participation of the Russian and Belarusian athletes in youth competitions, Russia and Belarus have received an exceptional authorization to register U21 teams in conferences of the FIBA 3×3 Youth Nations League, to be played in China and Malaysia.

The Central Board approved the preservation of the current status of Russian and Belarusian teams for all other competitions, including the Youth EuroBaskets 2026, until the next Executive Committee meeting, scheduled for September 2026.

The Central Board received a status update on the inaugural FIBA Masters Open, to be held from July 4-12 in the Attica and Corinth region of Greece, in collaboration with the Hellenic Basketball Federation. The registration process is still open through the end of April. The registration process is open through the end of April.

The Central Board also approved the FIBA 2025 Consolidated Financial Statements.

###

About FIBA
FIBA (fiba.basketball) – the world governing body for basketball, is an independent association formed by 212 National Basketball Federations throughout the world. It is recognized as the sole competent authority in basketball by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

For further information about FIBA, visit fiba.basketball and about.fiba.basketball or follow FIBA on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.

MIES (Switzerland) – The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced that Tokyo and Shanghai will host the Olympic Q-Series events featuring 3×3 basketball on the road to the LA28 Olympic Games.

The Olympic Q-Series is the final qualification pathway for 3×3 basketball at LA28, bringing together elite athletes across multiple urban sports in a festival-style format. Tokyo will stage its event from May 4-7, 2028, while Shanghai will follow from May 11-14, 2028.

In Tokyo, 3×3 basketball will be contested alongside BMX Freestyle, Sport Climbing and Skateboarding. Shanghai will host 3×3 basketball together with Beach Volleyball, BMX Freestyle and Sport Climbing.

The expanded Olympic Q-Series is part of the IOC’s vision to showcase urban and youth-focused sports in a shared, fan-friendly environment. For 3×3 basketball, the road to LA28 includes qualification through the FIBA 3×3 Federation Rankings, the Olympic Qualifying Tournaments (Universality and Ranking), and the Olympic Q-Series. Together, these pathways will determine the teams that earn their place at the LA28 Olympic Games.

The inclusion of Tokyo and Shanghai also highlights two cities that have played significant roles in the continued growth of 3×3 basketball. Tokyo hosted the sport’s Olympic debut at the Tokyo Olympic Games, while Shanghai has established itself as one of the leading destinations on the FIBA 3×3 World Tour and Women’s Series calendars.

1 ticket per gender to the Los Angeles 28 Olympics will be available in each Olympic Qualifier Series Tournament.

More information on the LA28 qualification system for 3×3 basketball is available at FIBA3x3.com.

###

About FIBA 3×3

Exciting, urban and innovative, 3×3 is inspired by several forms of streetball played worldwide and is considered the world’s number one urban team sport. Steered by FIBA, games see two teams of three players face off on a basketball half-court.

It was played successfully for the first time in international competition at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore and has since benefited from the launch of yearly professional circuits for men and women (World Tour and Women’s Series respectively) as well as national team competitions. 3×3 made its Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

FIBA