France to Host Men's Basketball World Cup for the First Time in 2031

On April 22, 2026, it was announced that France will host the men's basketball World Cup for the first time, with the tournament scheduled from August 29 to September 14, 2031. The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) confirmed that the event will take place across three French cities: Lille, Lyon, and Paris, with the final games held in the capital.

Jean-Pierre Hunckler, president of the French Basketball Federation (FFBB), expressed great pride in this historic milestone for French basketball, marking it as a significant day for the sport in the country. He highlighted the sport's growing popularity, as evidenced by basketball accounting for 10% of ticket sales at the recent Olympics, which drew 1.1 million spectators. Hunckler also underscored strong support from local and national authorities and pointed to the emergence of a talented new generation of players, such as Victor Wembanyama.

This World Cup will complement France's recent hosting of major international sports events, including the 2024 Olympics, the 2027 Cycling World Championships, and the 2028 Ice Hockey World Championship, further boosting the country's profile on the global sports stage.