WUHAN (China) – The future of 3x3 basketball takes center stage in Wuhan as the world’s best young talents gather for the FIBA 3x3 U23 World Cup 2026 from September 15-19. Forty national teams -- 20 men’s and 20 women’s -- will battle across five days for global glory, with defending champions, rising contenders and the next generation of 3x3 basketball stars all ready to make their mark.
Here’s everything you need to know before the action gets underway.
Where is the event?
The FIBA 3x3 U23 World Cup 2026 heads to Hongshan Riverfront Park on Wujindi Avenue in Hongshan District, Wuhan, China.
The city provides an exciting backdrop for the seventh edition of the U23 World Cup, bringing the fast-paced energy of 3x3 basketball to one of China’s major urban centers.
When is it?
The tournament runs from September 15-19.
🔸 Tuesday, September 15 – Pool Games 🔸 Wednesday, September 16 – Pool Games 🔸 Thursday, September 17 – Pool Games 🔸 Friday, September 18 – Pool Games 🔸 Saturday, September 19 – Knockout Games & Finals
Five days. Forty national teams. One world title in each category.
Who are the teams?
The tournament features 20 men’s and 20 women’s national teams, bringing together young talent from across all five continents.
Men
Germany, Latvia, Algeria, China, Lithuania, France, New Zealand, Netherlands, Spain, United States, Serbia, Poland, Argentina, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Tonga, Philippines, Republic of Korea and Australia.
Women
China, Netherlands, Spain, United States, Japan, Latvia, Czechia, France, Italy, Poland, Uganda, Kenya, Tonga, Slovenia, Egypt, Chinese Taipei, Canada, Madagascar and Australia.
The field features a mix of established 3x3 basketball nations and emerging programs, creating another global showcase for the depth of young talent in the discipline.
Pools
Men
Pool A: Germany, Netherlands, Serbia, Kazakhstan, Tonga Pool B: Latvia, New Zealand, Spain, Egypt, Philippines Pool C: Algeria, France, Poland, Kenya, Australia Pool D: China, Lithuania, United States, Argentina, Republic of Korea
Defending champions Lithuania face a stern test in Pool D alongside hosts China, the USA, Argentina and Republic of Korea. Pool A also has plenty of intrigue, with top-seeded Germany joined by 2025 runners-up Serbia and the Netherlands.
Women
Pool A: China, France, Italy, Egypt, Philippines Pool B: Netherlands, Czechia, Poland, Chinese Taipei, Canada Pool C: Spain, Latvia, Uganda, Tonga, Madagascar Pool D: United States, Japan, Kenya, Slovenia, Australia
Top seeds China have home advantage in Pool A, while defending champions Netherlands lead a competitive Pool B. Pool D also promises fireworks, with USA and Japan among the teams set to battle for qualification.
How does the competition work?
The men’s and women’s competitions follow the same format.
Each category features 20 teams split into four pools of five. Teams play a round-robin pool phase before the competition moves into the knockout rounds. The top two teams in each pool will qualify to the Quarter-Finals, where the winners move on to the Semi-Finals. The two Semi-Finals winners will play for the title in the Final. The losing Semi-Finals teams will play for third-place.
Who won last year?
Lithuania captured the U23 World Cup men’s title in 2025, defeating Serbia in the Final, while Netherlands claimed U23 World Cup women’s gold after beating France.
Lithuania return to Wuhan looking to defend their crown, while the Netherlands will attempt to repeat their success on the women’s side.
Which players should you watch?
There is no shortage of rising stars in Wuhan.
On the men’s side, Vuk Vukićević (Serbia) brings significant FIBA 3x3 World Tour experience, while Te Tuhi Lewis (New Zealand) arrives after helping New Zealand win the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup 2026. Sebastian Schwachhofer (Germany) is another name to watch after a strong 2026 that included a Beijing Challenger title.
Mārtiņš Bumbieris (Latvia) and Kajus Leliukas (Lithuania) also bring impressive Youth Nations League résumés, while home favorite Liu Xianglong (China) will look to make an impact in front of the Wuhan crowd.
On the women’s side, Lotte van Kruistum (Netherlands) returns as part of the reigning champions after winning the U23 World Cup in 2025. Li Ruoying (China) brings FIBA 3x3 Women’s Series experience into the home team, while Yurin Yamamoto (Japan) has also enjoyed a strong 2026 campaign.
Katie Fiso (USA), Elena Moreno (Spain), Adelīna Urtāne (Latvia), Mia Žekš (Slovenia) and Jesika Hibalová (Czechia) round out a group of players ready to take another step on the international stage.
See the full Men’s Players to Watch and Women’s Players to Watch lists.
Why does Wuhan matter?
Wuhan is more than just the setting for another major 3x3 basketball event. China has become an important part of the 3x3 basketball landscape, with the country hosting the U23 World Cup for the second consecutive year after Xiong'an staged the 2025 edition. In total, this is the fourth time for China to host the U23 World Cup after also hosting in 2019 (Lanzhou) and 2018 (Xi'an). Wuhan now gets its turn to showcase the sport to a global audience.
The U23 World Cup is also an important part of the pathway toward the senior game. Previous editions have helped introduce young players who have gone on to compete on the FIBA 3x3 World Tour, Women's Series, World Cup and Olympic stage.
Now, a new generation gets its opportunity.
How can you follow?
Fans around the world can follow the FIBA 3x3 U23 World Cup 2026 through the official FIBA 3x3 YouTube channel, with coverage also available via the Olympic Channel, Unbeaten and a variety of global broadcast partners.
Follow @FIBA3x3 across social media for schedules, results, highlights and behind-the-scenes coverage throughout the tournament.
Official hashtag: #3x3U23
Wuhan is ready. Forty teams are ready. The next generation of 3x3 basketball stars now has five days to write the next chapter of U23 World Cup history.
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