TOKYO — In a landmark decision for international basketball, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) has officially awarded the 2030 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup to Japan, with Tokyo selected as the host city. The announcement was made on April 22, 2026, during FIBA’s Central Board meeting in Berlin, Germany.
According to verified reports from FIBA and the Japan Basketball Association, the tournament will take place from November 26 to December 8, 2030. This marks the first time Japan will host the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in its history, and the first time the event will be held in Asia since the 2002 edition in China.
The decision follows a bidding process that began in July 2025. Japan’s interest in hosting was first declared publicly years earlier, drawing parallels to their successful bid for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, which was co-hosted with the Philippines and Indonesia. That earlier experience, particularly the strong fan engagement in Okinawa, contributed to Japan’s qualification for the Paris Olympics after a 48-year absence.
FIBA’s official statement, shared via its verified X account, confirmed: “We have allocated the hosting rights for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2030 to Japan. The capital city of Tokyo will host the tournament from November 26 to December 8, 2030.” The Japan Basketball Association echoed the news, stating the decision was formalized during the Central Board meeting in Berlin.
This upcoming tournament will be the 21st edition of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, a quadrennial competition featuring the top women’s national teams from around the globe. Notably, the 2030 event will be the first to be held in the November–December window after FIBA adjusted the competition calendar in May 2025.
Japan’s women’s national team has emerged as a rising force in international basketball. Most recently, they secured a silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics — held in 2021 due to the pandemic — marking their first-ever Olympic medal in the sport. That achievement has heightened expectations for a strong performance on home soil in 2030.
The timing of the announcement coincides with other key events in the basketball calendar. Just days prior, on April 22, 2026, the draw for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup — scheduled to be held in Germany — was completed, placing Japan in a competitive group alongside Spain, Germany, and Mali.
Reaction across Japanese sports media and fan communities has been overwhelmingly positive. Social media platforms saw an outpouring of support, with fans expressing pride in the nation’s growing basketball legacy and enthusiasm for the prospect of hosting a global tournament. Many noted the significance of hosting a World Cup in Tokyo, a city that previously welcomed the world during the 2020 Olympic Games.
While specific venues have not yet been disclosed, the tournament will utilize two facilities within Tokyo, as confirmed in tournament details released by FIBA. Further information regarding exact arenas, ticket sales, and qualification pathways is expected to be released in the coming months as preparations begin.
Looking ahead, the next major milestone in the journey toward the 2030 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup will be the official announcement of participating teams, which will follow the conclusion of regional qualifying campaigns over the next several years. For now, the focus shifts to celebration and preparation as Japan gears up to welcome the world’s best women’s basketball players to Tokyo in 2030.
For continuing updates on the 2030 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup and other international basketball developments, readers are encouraged to follow official channels from FIBA and the Japan Basketball Association.
