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.
3x3
The Executive Committee received a report on FIBA 3x3 national team competitions, including the successful FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2026 in Warsaw, Poland. The landmark 10th edition of the FIBA 3x3 World Cup delivered record crowds, global visibility and unforgettable moments, with Warsaw welcoming more than 100,000 visitors to the 3x3 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 3x3 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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