2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup schedule: Dates, groups, teams and venues
The United States have learned their opponents in the preliminary round as they go in search of a fifth straight World Cup win.
The United States has been drawn to play against Czechia, Italy and China in the preliminary round of the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, which will be held in Berlin, Germany, in September.
The U.S., the world’s top-ranked nation, heads into the 2026 tournament as the defending champion and clear favorite. Team USA has won the last four editions of the Women’s Basketball World Cup and has only failed to lift the trophy twice in the last four decades.
Preliminary round draw
Group A
Japan, Spain, Germany, Mali
Group B
Hungary, Korea, Nigeria, France
Group C
Belgium, Australia, Puerto Rico, Türkiye
Group D
USA, Czechia, Italy, China
When is the 2026 Women’s Basketball World Cup?
The 20th edition of the Women’s Basketball World Cup tips off on September 4 and concludes with the gold-medal game on September 13.
Format: how teams reach the knockout stage
The top three teams in each group will qualify for the knockout phase, with group winners advancing directly to the quarterfinals.
The second- and third-placed teams from each group must go through a playoff round to reach the final eight.
2026 Women’s Basketball World Cup schedule
Preliminary round
Gameday 1: September 4
Gameday 2: September 5-6
Gameday 3: September 7
Knockout rounds
Playoff round: September 8
Quarterfinals: September 10
Semifinals: September 12
Third-place game: September 13
Final: September 13
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