The FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 in Berlin is set to feature 16 national teams competing across 36 matches from September 4 to September 13, 2026, marking the tournament’s historic return to Europe for the first time since 1998.
Tournament Format and Expansion to 16 Teams
Organized by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the premier women’s national team competition is expanding from 12 teams—as seen at the tournament in Sydney in 2022—to 16 squads for the Berlin edition. This structural shift allows for broader continental representation and a larger volume of fixtures over the ten-day competition window, according to tournament previews.
The 16 participating countries are divided into four groups of four teams for the initial round. Following round-robin play within groups from September 4 to September 8, group winners advance directly to the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, second- and third-place finishers compete in single-elimination qualification games on September 9 to determine the remaining quarterfinalists. The knockout phase continues with quarterfinals on September 11, semifinals on September 12, and the third-place game and final on September 13.
Host Venues in Berlin
Competition fixtures will take place entirely within two major indoor venues in the German capital. The Uber Arena serves as the primary showcase, boasting a capacity of over 14,000 spectators for basketball events and hosting the decisive games of the tournament, including the quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final. The Max-Schmeling-Halle hosts a significant portion of the group stage matches and the preliminary qualification rounds.
Group Stage Draw and Opening Fixtures
The official draw conducted by FIBA established four distinct groups for the tournament. Group A brings together host nation Germany, Spain, Japan, and Mali. Opening day action on September 4 features Japan facing Mali, followed by Spain taking on host Germany at the venues in Berlin. Group B comprises Hungary, South Korea, Nigeria, and France, with South Korea meeting Nigeria and Hungary playing France on the opening matchday. Group C features Belgium, Australia, Puerto Rico, and Turkey, while Group D rounds out the field with the United States, Czechia, Italy, and China.
How to Follow the Tournament
Fans around the globe can access live coverage and on-demand broadcasts of all fixtures through FIBA’s streaming platform, Courtside 1891 via DAZN. Official tournament trackers, team rosters, and real-time updates are maintained directly on the official FIBA event portal as the countdown to the September opening tip continues.
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