Fan-favorite destinations Japan-France to host FIBA extravaganzas

Article posted by Coliseum, May 6^th, 2026

Image: FIBA

The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Central Board has assigned the hosting rights of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2030 to Japan and the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2031 hosting rights to France.

‘FIBA’ stated that the above conclusion was arrived at following a thorough assessment of their bids in Berlin, Germany. Moreover, both Japan and France enjoy their long-held status as fan-favorite destinations worldwide. Both the countries are also famed for organizing elite global scale events.

Japan’s capital Tokyo will host the 2030 showcase from November 26^th-December 8^th. Three French cities – Lille, Lyon and Paris – will play host to the spectacle from August 29^th-September 14^th, 2031, with the final phase to be played in Paris.

Stressing on the fact that both Japan and France are favorite destinations with the fans the FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis commented, “Japan and France are two basketball-loving nations, two destinations extremely popular with our fans, the players and the partners. But what makes us more excited for both 2030 and 2031 is that really rare quality that Japan and France possess of adding their local, unique touch of excellence and flavor to make the events truly unforgettable in time. The FIBA World Cups have become synonymous with success in large part because selecting the appropriate host each time is the cornerstone of our mission to make basketball the most popular sports community.”

Added Zagklis, “The FIBA Central Board decided that the bids by both the Japanese Basketball Association (JBA) and the French Basketball Federation (FFBB) meet the high requirements we have from a FIBA World Cup host and has entrusted them with this big responsibility.”

Mies (Switzerland)-based the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) is an association of national organizations which governs the sport of basketball worldwide. FIBA defines the rules of basketball, specifies the equipment and facilities required, organizes the international competitions, regulates the transfer of athletes across the countries, and controls the appointment of international referees.

The FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, also known as the Basketball World Cup for Women or simply the FIBA Women’s World Cup, is an international basketball tournament for the Women’s national teams held quadrennially. It was created by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).

The FIBA Basketball World Cup is an international basketball competition between the senior Men’s national teams of the members of the International Basketball Federation, the sport’s global governing body. It takes place every four years and is considered the flagship event of FIBA.

‘FIBA’ further stated that Japan and France have hosted the two most recent Summer Olympic Games in 2020 and 2024, respectively. Japan women and France men both won silver medals at their home Olympics.

Japan has previously hosted the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2006 and one group of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 in Okinawa but hosting the Women’s World Cup for the first time carries special significance as it will coincide with the 100-year anniversary of the Japanese Basketball Association (JBA).

France will host a FIBA World Cup for the first time but the nation has a long tradition as the stage of big FIBA events. In just recent years, Lille played host to the FIBA EuroBasket 2015, Bourges hosted the FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2020, Strasbourg was one of the two co-hosts of FIBA Women’s EuroBasket 2021, and one of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 Qualifying Tournaments took place in Lyon- Villeurbanne.

The Japan Basketball Association is the governing body of basketball in Japan. Formed in 1930, it is based in Tokyo.

Paris-based the French Basketball Federation (FFBB) is the governing body of basketball in France. It was founded in 1932 and has been a member of FIBA since 1933.

Key Question:

Does the ‘fan-favorite destination’ and the ‘local’ factors play a key role in FIBA awarding hosting rights to the countries?

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