Everything you need to know about the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 Draw

APRIL 15, 2026

BERLIN (Germany) - The 16 nations heading for this year's showpiece tournament will soon find out what lies in wait when the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 Draw takes place in Berlin on April 21.

One of the most highly anticipated moments in the build up to the start of the flagship competition in the German capital, it will be followed by a glittering FIBA Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony for the Class of 2026.

The FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 will take place September 4-13, with the field expanded from 12 to 16 teams in the wake of the most successful edition ever four years ago in Sydney. It's a change that also highlights the ever increasing popularity of the women's global game.

The participating nations include reigning champions USA, who are bidding to land their fifth consecutive crown at the event, with Korea extending their impressive appearance streak to 18 editions in a row.

Mali are qualified for consecutive Women's World Cups for the first time in their national team history.

Meanwhile Italy are making a return to the competition for the first time in 32 years and fellow European country Hungary are set to end their 28 year wait.

The FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 Draw will start at 18:00 (CET) and will be held at Kraftwerk Berlin, a former power plant renovated and restored to host events and reflect the urban culture of the famous city.

Sue Bird, a FIBA Hall of Famer and Women’s World Cup Global Ambassador, will be on stage to present the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup Trophy. She participated in five editions of the event as a player for USA Basketball, winning the World title in 2002, 2010, 2014 and 2018.

Lauren Jackson, an icon of the Opals, will help conduct the draw, having led Australia to the greatest moment in their history by winning the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in 2006.

Stefan Kretzschmar, a legendary figure of the German national handball team, and Jilou, one of the top female breakdancers in the world, will also assist in the process.

FIBA President Sheikh Saud Ali Al Thani, FIBA Secretary General, Andreas Zagklis, FIBA Central Board members will also be present, along with representatives from the participating National Federations and the German Local Organizing Committee.

The FIBA Hall of Fame Class of 2026 will also be in attendance at the Draw, bringing together an array of iconic names from the global game. The class features Sue Bird (USA) and Dirk Nowitzki (Germany), alongside Celine Dumerc (France), Clarisse Machanguana (Mozambique), Hedo Türkoğlu (Türkiye), and Wang Zhizhi (China), while Ludwik Miętta-Mikołajewicz (Poland) is inducted as a coach. Ismenia Pauchard (Chile) will be honored posthumously.

The FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 Draw Principles will be revealed a few days before the event.

Both the Draw and the FIBA Hall of Fame Class of 2026 induction ceremony will be available to watch live on the FIBA YouTube channel.

Information and photo source : FIBA