MIES (Switzerland) – FIBA’s Executive Committee has convened just ahead of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026, which is set to tip off on September 4 in Berlin.

The meeting opened with a moment of silence in memory of Honorary President Horacio Muratore, who sadly passed away at the end of July, honoring his contribution to the sport and the lasting legacy he leaves on FIBA and the global basketball community.

The following topics were discussed:

FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026

The FIBA Executive Committee approved the report on the highly anticipated FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026, which will see 16 teams compete in Berlin over 10 days. Preparations continue to gather momentum, with a series of activities already underway, including the Trophy Tour across Germany and the establishment of dedicated Fan Zones throughout the tournament. Emphasis has been put on the Players’ experience, with single rooms, a dedicated weightlifting area and a private Lounge offering several services.

The Executive Committee also received an update on ticket sales, confirming the presence of more than 200,000 spectators, with the final weekend being sold out.

FIBA Women’s Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament 2026

The FIBA Women’s Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament 2026 recently took place in Mexico, providing eight national teams with valuable competitive opportunities during the Women’s World Cup year. The Executive Committee received a comprehensive report on the tournament, which concluded with Canada securing the sole available berth in the FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournaments 2028.

FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027

The Executive Committee received an update on preparations for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027. Key milestones in the lead-up to FIBA’s biggest event were highlighted, including the successful celebration of the one-year-to-go mark and the launch of ticket sales, giving fans the opportunity to secure their seats and begin planning their travel.

The update also noted the recent FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Qualifiers Second Round game between Qatar and China, which was played at Al Janoub Arena following its addition to the tournament’s venue lineup. The stadium is set to make history as the first football venue ever to host FIBA Basketball World Cup games, reflecting the scale and ambition of FIBA’s flagship men’s event.

The Executive Committee received a report on the successful completion of Windows 3 and 4 of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Qualifiers, which took place across all regions and continued to generate strong engagement from fans worldwide. The Executive Committee also confirmed that the Group E tournament of Window 5 in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers will be hosted in Malaysia and of Window 6 in the Philippines.

3×3

The Executive Committee received a report on FIBA 3×3 national team competitions, including the successful FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2026 in Warsaw, Poland. The landmark 10th edition of the FIBA 3×3 World Cup delivered record crowds, global visibility and unforgettable moments, with Warsaw welcoming more than 100,000 visitors to the 3×3 Village throughout the week, creating a vibrant festival atmosphere in the heart of the city.

FIBA Intercontinental Cup 2026

An update was given on preparations for the upcoming FIBA Intercontinental Cup 2026, which will be held in Beijing, China, from September 22-27 as the tournament begins a new three-year chapter in the Chinese capital. The six-team lineup was confirmed in August, featuring Rytas Vilnius (Lithuania), RSSB Tigers (Rwanda), Shanghai Sharks (China), Boca Juniors (Argentina), Beijing Royal Fighters (China) and NBA G League United (USA), and Argentinian basketball legend Luis Scola will serve as an ambassador for the event.

Other Matters

Following the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board’s decisions to lift its recommended restrictions on Belarusian athletes and teams on May 7, and provisionally lift the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee on July 7, the Executive Committee confirmed FIBA’s alignment with the IOC decisions and decided that the implementation will follow the principles below:

• With respect to the participation of individuals, to lift the restrictions on all players, coaches, referees, commissioners and other officials in Basketball and 3×3 Basketball. Russian and Belarusian individual players can participate and officials can be nominated in all FIBA competitions with immediate effect.

• With respect to participation of teams, to work closely with the IOC, ASOIF and other Olympic team sports federations to address the logistical and player safety issues surrounding the reintegration of Russian and Belarusian national teams on the Road to LA28 as well as in the international competitions for national teams and clubs in all ages and in both Olympic disciplines of FIBA. Concrete decisions that can be implemented in this respect, including an adequate anti-doping program, will be taken at the FIBA Central Board meeting in December 2026.

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BORDEAUX (France) – The race for the FIBA 3×3 World Tour continues to intensify as the FIBA 3×3 Bordeaux Challenger 2026 brings some of the biggest names in the Pro Circuit to the Placette de Munich on August 21-22, with three coveted tickets to FIBA 3×3 World Tour Deqing 2026 on the line. As the 19th Challenger of the season, Bordeaux offers another major opportunity for teams to turn Challenger success into a place on China’s very own “3×3 city.”

Heavyweights aplenty

The field features an impressive collection of teams from the top end of the FIBA 3×3 World Tour 2026 standings, setting up a fierce battle for the title and qualification.

Ub (SRB), currently first overall, headline the tournament alongside No. 2 Liman (SRB) and No. 5 Skyliners (GER). All three have established themselves among the most dangerous teams on the FIBA 3×3 World Tour this season and arrive in Bordeaux with serious title ambitions.

Skyliners, in particular, are hoping for daylight after crashing out of the recent Singapore Challenger in pool play.

Antwerp (BEL), ranked sixth overall, add another proven contender, while Toulouse (FRA) will look to build on their recent Challenger triumph in Singapore. The French side currently sit 13th overall in the FIBA 3×3 World Tour standings and will have the added motivation of playing on home soil.

Fuengirola (ESP), Barcelona (ESP) and hosts Bordeaux (FRA) complete a strong group of teams inside the world’s top 25.

With only three World Tour spots available, the depth of the field means qualification will be anything but straightforward. Ub, though, have already qualified for WT Deqing via the SBA PRO TOUR 2026 in Bratislava, Slovakia.

Star power across the court

The FIBA 3×3 WT Bordeaux 2026 will also feature a collection of established 3×3 basketball stars capable of changing a game in an instant.

Ub will be led by “Doctor Strange” Strahinja Stojacic, one of the most recognizable players in the discipline, while Liman will rely on the production of “The Gladiator” Stefan Milivojevic. Stefan “Chef Koja” Kojic brings experience and scoring punch to a dangerous Skyliners team.

Antwerp’s Jonas Foerts adds another proven international presence, while Toulouse will have French standout Franck Seguela looking to lead the home side to another major Challenger run.

There will be plenty more talent to watch, including Fuengirola’s Diego de Blas, Barcelona’s Nil Bria and Bordeaux’s Alex Vialaret.

Full Seeding List

1. Ub (SRB)
2. Liman (SRB)
3. Skyliners (GER)
4. Antwerp (BEL)
5. Toulouse (FRA)
6. Fuengirola (ESP)
7. Barcelona (ESP)
8. Bordeaux (FRA)
9. Cibona Ph.Classic (CRO)
10. Kaunas VDU (LTU)
11. Utrecht (NED)
12. Bochum SPARKASSE (GER)
13. Warsaw (POL)
14. Milan (ITA)
15. Prague (CZE)
16. Rome (ITA)

Qualifying Draw

Qualifying Draw A: Kaunas VDU (LTU), Milan (ITA), Prague (CZE)
Qualifying Draw B: Bochum SPARKASSE (GER), Warsaw (POL), Rome (ITA)

Main Draw

Pool A: Ub (SRB), Bordeaux (FRA), Cibona Ph.Classic (CRO)
Pool B: Liman (SRB), Barcelona (ESP), Utrecht (NED)
Pool C: Skyliners (GER), Fuengirola (ESP), QD A
Pool D: Antwerp (BEL), Toulouse (FRA), QD B

Road to the World Tour

Every game in Bordeaux carries significant importance as three tickets to FIBA 3×3 World Tour Deqing 2026 are at stake.

The combination of elite-ranked contenders, experienced stars and home favorites sets the stage for a Challenger where there will be little room for error. With the FIBA 3×3 World Tour continuing its crucial stretch, Bordeaux could prove decisive for teams looking to secure their place among the best.

Fans can expect the trademark intensity, shot-making and physicality of the FIBA 3×3 Pro Circuit as the Placette de Munich becomes the latest battleground in the race to the World Tour.

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.

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