FIBA reveals how to qualify for 3x3 basketball at LA 2028 Olympics

DECEMBER 12, 2025

MIES (Switzerland) - The countdown to Los Angeles 2028 is already underway, with teams now able to see how they can realise their Olympic dreams after a new qualification system was launched for what will be 3x3 basketball's third appearance at the Games.

With only USA guaranteed a spot as Olympic host, a further 11 tickets are available for both the men's and women's competitions. A total of 5 places will be allocated to top-ranked National Federations (through Regional allocation) as of December 1, 2027, with the 6 additional spots determined by four Qualifying Tournaments to be held between March and June 2028.

After the stellar success of Paris 2024 when 3x3 basketball was played in front of spectators for the first time, interest in the number one urban team sport in the world is expected to soar even higher this time around. This will be fueled by what promises to be an entertaining and absorbing 'Road to LA 2028'.

Here's how the 12 teams per gender field for LA 2028 will be determined.

Top-Ranked Federations

A total of 5 spots per gender will be determined by the FIBA 3x3 Federation Ranking as of December 1, 2027. The top ranked countries in Africa , the Americas , Europe and Asia-Pacific , thereof at least 1 from Asia) in securing their respective Olympic tickets.

In May 2025, the FIBA Central Board agreed a significant change to the FIBA 3x3 Federation Ranking process, expanding it to cover a 24-month period, rather than 12 months. Making sure that every game counts, the Ranking is already live after coming into effect on December 1, 2025.

By the end of 2027, exactly half of the Olympic 3x3 basketball lineup for both the men and women's competitions will have been confirmed. This will be the Olympic host, USA , plus the top-ranked in the FIBA 3x3 Federations Ranking through the Regional allocation .

Attention will then turn to what is already shaping up to be four unforgettable Qualifying Tournaments in 2028. These will determine which countries take the last 6 remaining tickets for each gender.

3x3 Olympic Qualifying Tournaments

A total of 2 tickets per gender will be available for each of the 3x3 Olympic Qualifying Tournaments that will be organized by FIBA.

3x3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament - Universality will be the first to be played and will feature 12 teams. Based on Universality, the field will be made up of the Qualifying Tournament host and another 11 teams based on their FIBA 3x3 Basketball Federation Ranking, albeit limited to countries that did not play in the discipline of Basketball in Tokyo 2020 and/or Paris 2024.

3x3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament – Ranking will be the second to be played and will also feature 12 teams. Based on ranking, the field will be made up of the Qualifying Tournament host and another 11 teams based on their FIBA 3x3 Basketball Federation Ranking.

Meanwhile a total of 1 ticket per gender will be available for the winner of each of the Olympic Qualifying Tournaments that FIBA is currently planning to include as part of the Olympic Qualifiers Series (OQS) for the first time.

The third 3x3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament is currently planned to be integrated in an Olympic Qualifier Series (OQS) Tournament and will be based on Cup winners. The field will be made up of the Qualifying Tournament host and another 7 teams. The teams will be the following: Host , Champions Cup 2026 , Champions Cup 2027 , Each Continental Cup , World Cup 2027

The fourth and last Olympic Qualifying Tournament is also currently planned to be integrated in an Olympic Qualifier Series (OQS) Tournament and will be based on the FIBA 3x3 Basketball Federation Combined Ranking. The field will be made up of the Qualifying Tournament host and another 7 teams.

All Olympic Qualifying Tournaments will follow strict gender parity and will be held simultaneously for both genders like in the past.

information and photo source : FIBA