ANTWERP (Belgium) – Europe’s best 3x3 basketball national teams are heading to Antwerp. From Olympic and World Cup champions to defending Europe Cup winners and rising contenders, the FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup Crelan 2026 has all the ingredients for another unforgettable three days of action.
Here’s everything you need to know before the action gets underway.
Where is the event?
The FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup Crelan 2026 heads to Groenplaats, right in the heart of Antwerp, Belgium.
A dedicated 3x3 basketball venue with a capacity of 1,500 spectators will sit at the European Championship Arena, while the surrounding Public Plaza will feature partner activations, food, drinks and activities for fans.
There will also be a warm-up court at Grote Markt, around four minutes from the main arena, bringing even more 3x3 basketball activity into the city center.
Of course, Antwerp is no stranger to major 3x3 basketball events. The city hosted the FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2022, where Serbia won the men's title and France claimed women's gold.
When is it?
The tournament runs from September 11-13.
🔸Friday, September 11 - Pool Games
🔸Saturday, September 12 - Pool Games
🔸Sunday, September 13 - Knockout Games & Finals
Three days. 24 national teams. One European title in each category.
Who are the teams?
The tournament brings together 12 men's and 12 women's national teams.
The men's field features Serbia, Netherlands, Lithuania, France, Germany, Latvia, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Ireland and Estonia.
The women's field features Netherlands, Spain, France, Germany, Poland, Czechia, Hungary, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Slovenia, Sweden and Belgium.
The field includes Olympic champions, World Cup winners, Europe Cup champions and some of the biggest stars from the FIBA 3x3 World Tour and Women's Series.
Pools
Men
Pool A: Serbia, Belgium, Switzerland Pool B: Netherlands, Spain, Italy Pool C: Lithuania, Latvia, Ireland Pool D: France, Germany, Estonia
Pool C immediately stands out, with defending Europe Cup champions Lithuania facing reigning FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2026 champions Latvia. That will be a rematch of last year's Europe Cup Final. Pool B also brings together Paris 2024 Olympic champions Netherlands and FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2025 winners Spain, while Serbia-Belgium renews the World Tour rivalry between Strahinja Stojačić and Dennis Donkor.
Women
Pool A: Netherlands, Ukraine, Azerbaijan Pool B: Spain, Hungary, Slovenia Pool C: France, Czechia, Sweden Pool D: Germany, Poland, Belgium
The Netherlands-Azerbaijan matchup is a rematch of last year's Europe Cup Final, while Spain-Hungary brings back memories of Hungary's surprise FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2026 win over the Spanish.
How does the competition work?
The same format applies to both the men's and women's tournaments.
The 12 teams are split into four pools of three, with every team playing the other two teams in their pool. The top two teams from each pool advance to the Quarter-Finals, followed by the Semi-Finals and Final. The losing Semi-Finalists then meet for the bronze medal.
With only three teams per pool, every game matters. One defeat can dramatically change a team's route to the knockout rounds.
Who won last year?
Lithuania claimed the men's title at the FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup 2025 in Copenhagen, defeating Latvia in the Final, while Netherlands captured the women's crown after beating Azerbaijan.
Both defending champions return in Antwerp with their titles on the line. Lithuania will immediately face a huge challenge against Latvia, who eliminated them in the FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2026 Quarter-Finals. On the women's side, the Netherlands will look to bounce back from losing their FIBA 3x3 World Cup crown and disappointing at the recent FIBA 3x3 Women's Series Project Redwings Shanghai Final. They could be the first back-to-back Europe Cup women's champions since France did it from 2018 to 2019.
Which players should you watch?
There is no shortage of star power in Antwerp.
In the Men's Tournament, world No.1 Strahinja Stojačić leads Serbia, while Olympic champion Worthy de Jong anchors the Netherlands. Defending Europe Cup MVP Ignas Vaitkus returns for Lithuania, while Olympic, World Cup and Europe Cup champion Kārlis Lasmanis leads Latvia. France's Hugo Suhard, Germany's Fabian Giessmann, Spain's Diego De Blas and home favorite Dennis Donkor are also among the names to watch.
On the Women's side of things, weigning Europe Cup MVP Noortje Driessen headlines the Netherlands, with Spain's Gracia Alonso de Armiño leading a new generation. France's Laetitia Guapo arrives fresh from winning the Women's Series Shanghai Final and its MVP award, while Azerbaijan's Alexandra Mollenhauer, Germany's Ama Degbeon, Poland's Aleksandra Zięmborska, Czechia's Karolína Sotolová and Hungary's Klaudia Papp add plenty of firepower.
Why does the Europe Cup matter?
The FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup is more than a battle for continental bragging rights. It is Europe's flagship national-team 3x3 basketball competition, bringing together some of the deepest talent in the discipline.
And the stakes extend beyond Antwerp: the men's and women's champions will qualify for both the FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2027 and FIBA 3x3 Champions Cup 2027.
How can you follow?
Fans around the world can follow the action through the official FIBA 3x3 YouTube channel, Olympic Channel and Unbeaten, alongside an extensive network of national broadcast partners.
Follow @FIBA3x3 across social media for schedules, results, highlights and behind-the-scenes coverage throughout the tournament.
The field in Antwerp is loaded, and the stakes are as high as they can be. Groenplaats is ready for three days of elite 3x3 basketball, and Europe is ready to crown its champions.
Stay Connected
Follow all the latest action from the FIBA 3x3 Cups tournaments throughout the 2026 season by visiting the official FIBA 3x3 website, where you can find the latest news, star players and everything you need to know. Fans can also keep track of the Event Calendar and the latest FIBA 3x3 Individual and Federation Rankings as teams and players continue their push toward the season finale.
Want to learn more about 3x3 basketball? Explore the official FIBA 3x3 Rules to understand the unique fast-paced format of the game, or discover the FIBA 3x3 Competition Structure to see how the discipline’s global pathway connects grassroots events, professional tours and world-class international competitions.
FIBA