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Competition System & Calendar 2017+

The New System as of 2017

The new FIBA Calendar and Competition System from 2017 onwards opens a new era for basketball all over the world - one which features 1,680 top players during 1,250 national teams games and millions of fans all around the globe.

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Key Changes
  • FIBA Basketball World Cup moved to 2019, then every four years (2023, 2027, 2031, etc.), avoiding the clash with other major sporting events
     
  • Two-year qualification period for each FIBA Basketball World Cup: Six windows per qualification period (Nov, Feb, June, Sept, Nov, Feb)
     
  • FIBA Basketball World Cup played with 32 teams (1 Host, 5 from Africa, 7 from Americas, 7 from Asia/Oceania, 12 from Europe)
     
  • Qualification for Olympic Games through FIBA Basketball World Cup and Olympic Qualifying Tournaments
     
  • Asia and Oceania to play the qualification phase in an Asia-Pacific region to ensure competitive games
     
  • All Continental Championships to follow four-year cycle (2017, 2021, 2025 etc.) :
    • Starting right after the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup
    • Qualification for Continental Championships in 4 Regions
    • 4 windows beginning in November 2019, then February and November 2020 and February 2021

After the 2021 Continental Championships, the four year cycle (2021-2025) begins once again with the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualifiers beginning in November 2021.

WHY THE CHANGES?
    • No visibility of national teams in their home countries.
       
    • National team competitions in selected host countries taking place ONLY in the summer.
       
    • No easy-to-follow qualification system throughout the 5 continental zones.
       
    • No lead-up (“Road to”) to the flagship national team competitions - large gaps without games.
       
    • Unlike other team sports, currently no official regular home games for all national teams.
       
    • Future participation of the best players to national team flagship tournaments questionable.
       
    • No development potential for most of the National Federations - as the same countries play and win the major competitions.
       
    • Too much “wear and tear” for the international players competing every summer at the end of the club season.
       
    • Economic viability of the current system at risk in a changing environment as other sports are improving their position.

  • Improved basketball exposure: More than 140 countries playing – 1,250 regular and meaningful games.

    • New interest for basketball: Regular official national team games in front of their home fans.
       
    • Player-friendly system with one free summer: Maximises the chance of having international stars in the flagship FIBA tournaments.
       
    • Opportunity for new countries and players to emerge through regular official games.
       
    • All-year regular visibility of the national team, not only in summer time – creating synergies with club competitions.
       
    • Improved structure of lead-up to flagship national team tournaments: Clear “Road to” the main FIBA competitions.
       
    • Enhanced potential for commercial and media partners to be associated with the national teams and the main FIBA competitions.
       
    • Development of National Federations, giving them own assets, new tools and more resources.
       
    • Increased media exposure and promotion for national team basketball – generating benefits across all FIBA Zones.


    “The growth of national team basketball in any country needs to be promoted”