France will host the 2031 FIBA Men’s Basketball World Cup, marking the first time the tournament will be held on French soil. The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) awarded the hosting rights to France on April 22, 2026, with games scheduled from August 29 to September 14, 2031, across Paris, Lyon and Lille.
The tournament will feature 32 national teams competing in 92 matches, continuing the format introduced in 2019. The event will also serve as qualification for the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane, Australia.
According to Jean-Pierre Hunckler, president of the French Basketball Federation (FFBB), the organization presented a comprehensive plan centered on major arenas and commitments from local and national authorities. “We presented a complete project that relies on major arenas and the commitment of local communities and the state,” Hunckler stated following the announcement in Berlin.
Venue details have begun to emerge, with specific arenas assigned to different stages of the competition. In Paris, the Adidas Arena (8,000 capacity) and Accor Arena (16,000 capacity) will host first and second round games. The Paris La Défense Arena in Nanterre, with capacity between 25,000 and 30,000, will host the final phase including quarterfinals, semifinals and finals.
In Lyon, the LDLC Arena in Lyon-Décines (12,000 capacity) and the Decathlon Arena – an indoor version of Stade Pierre Mauroy (27,000 capacity) – will host first and second round groups. The Decathlon Arena previously hosted Olympic basketball preliminary games in 2024.
Lille will also serve as a host city, though specific venues for the northern French city were not detailed in the initial announcements. The tournament will utilize five sites across the three metropolitan areas.
The hosting decision carries special significance for Victor Wembanyama, the 7’4″ San Antonio Spurs star who will be 27 years vintage during the 2031 tournament. Afroballers.com reported that the home World Cup “sets the stage for Victor Wembanyama to dazzle on home court during what should be the prime years of his career.”
The FFBB president specifically acknowledged Wembanyama’s role in the bid, stating: “Thank you to Victor Wembanyama in our candidacy,” during his remarks following the decision. Wembanyama, who turned 20 in 2024, is already considered a generational talent and is expected to be a cornerstone of France’s national team heading into the 2031 event.
France’s basketball infrastructure has developed significantly over the past decade, producing NBA-caliber players at an increased rate. Beyond Wembanyama, the country has cultivated talent like Rudy Gobert and Evan Fournier, many of whom have African heritage connections that align with France’s diverse sporting culture.
Recent French basketball hosting experience includes Lille hosting EuroBasket 2015, Bourges hosting the 2020 Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament, Strasbourg co-hosting EuroBasket Women 2021, and Lyon-Villeurbanne hosting a qualifying tournament for the 2026 Women’s World Cup in March 2026.
The decision continues FIBA’s pattern of rotating major tournaments globally, following the 2030 Women’s World Cup award to Japan. This approach spreads basketball’s premier events across different continents.
As of the announcement date, no official budget figures for the 2031 FIBA World Cup in France have been released by either FIBA or the FFBB. The organizing committee has not disclosed financial details regarding venue preparations, operational costs or expected economic impact.
The next major milestone in the tournament’s preparation will likely involve further venue specifications, ticketing information and team qualification processes, which typically begin several years before the event. Fans worldwide will await additional details as France prepares to host basketball’s premier international competition for the first time in its history.
Stay tuned to Archysport for continuing coverage of the 2031 FIBA Basketball World Cup preparations as more information becomes available from official sources.
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