Villeurbanne, France – March 14, 2026 – The French women’s national basketball team has officially qualified for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup, set to take place in Berlin, Germany, from September 4th to 13th. Remarkably, the team secured their place in the tournament even before taking the court on Saturday, benefiting from results earlier in the day from the qualifying tournament in Villeurbanne.
France’s qualification was confirmed as Nigeria defeated the Philippines 101-84 and South Korea overcame Colombia 82-52. These outcomes ensured that France, already with two wins under their belt in the tournament, could no longer be overtaken in the Group D standings. The French team (2-0) is guaranteed to finish ahead of both the Philippines and Colombia (0-3 each).
Despite already clinching a berth in the World Cup – the first to feature 16 teams – Les Bleues continued their dominant form with an 85-63 victory over Germany on Saturday evening. This marked their third consecutive win in the qualifying tournament.
The team’s success builds on a strong recent history, including a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics and a seventh-place finish at the 2022 World Cup in Australia. Now, the focus shifts to Berlin and a pursuit of a first World Cup podium finish since the inaugural tournament in 1953 in Chile.
What’s Next for France in Villeurbanne?
Although qualification is secured, France isn’t resting on its laurels. They have three remaining matches in the Villeurbanne qualifying tournament, aiming to refine their game and improve their FIBA ranking ahead of the World Cup. These matches offer valuable preparation and an opportunity to build momentum.
On Saturday, March 14th (20:00 local time), the French team faced Germany, the tournament’s host nation and another already-qualified team. Following that, they will take on Nigeria on Sunday, March 15th (19:00 local time) and conclude the tournament against South Korea on Tuesday, March 17th (20:30 local time).
The Villeurbanne tournament is one of four qualifying events taking place globally. Germany and Nigeria were already assured of qualification prior to the tournament, leaving two spots available for the remaining teams in the group. France’s strong performance ensured they claimed one of those coveted places.
The French squad has been bolstered by the return of Gabby Williams and Marine Johannès, who were absent during the Euro 2025 tournament. This reunion of key players provides coach Jean-Aimé Toupane with a full roster as he prepares for both the remainder of the qualifying tournament and the challenges ahead in Berlin.
This qualification represents a significant milestone for French women’s basketball, demonstrating the program’s continued growth and competitiveness on the international stage. The team will gaze to build on this success and craft a strong showing at the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup.
The return of key players like Williams and Johannès is particularly encouraging. Their experience and talent will be invaluable as France navigates the challenges of the World Cup. For fans, it’s a chance to witness a team on the rise, capable of competing with the world’s best.
The upcoming matches against Nigeria and South Korea will provide further opportunities to assess the team’s progress and fine-tune their strategies. These games will also serve as a valuable test ahead of the higher-stakes competition in Berlin.
As France prepares for the World Cup, the focus will undoubtedly be on achieving a podium finish. While the competition will be fierce, Les Bleues have demonstrated the talent and determination to make a deep run in the tournament.
The 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup in Berlin promises to be a thrilling event, and with their qualification secured, the French team is poised to be a major contender. Fans can look forward to watching Les Bleues compete against the world’s elite and strive for basketball glory.
Next Up: France continues its qualifying campaign with a match against Nigeria on Sunday, March 15th at 19:00 local time (17:00 UTC) in Villeurbanne.
