UTSUNOMIYA (Japan) - The FIBA 3x3 World Tour Utsunomiya Opener 2026 tips off on April 25-26, marking the start of a new season on the global FIBA 3x3 Pro Circuit.
Here’s everything you need to know before the first FIBA 3x3 WT stop of the year.
Where is the event?
The tournament takes place in Utsunomiya, the capital and largest city of Tochigi Prefecture, which is located just north of Tokyo. The event will be staged at the Futaarayama Jinja Shrine, providing a unique cultural setting in the heart of the city.
A long-time host of the FIBA 3x3 WT, Utsunomiya has become one of the most established cities in 3x3 basketball, known for strong local support and consistent event delivery.
This will be the ninth World Tour event hosted in the city and the fifth time it stages the FIBA 3x3 WT opener.
When is it?
Saturday, April 25 – Qualifying Draw and Pool games
Sunday, April 26 – Knockout phase and Final
Who are the teams?
A total of 14 teams will compete, featuring FIBA 3x3 World Tour contenders, previous winners and the best Japanese teams
Pools
Qualifying Draw: Taipei WanBao (TPE), Shinagawa (JPN), Hiratsuka (JPN)
Main Draw:
Pool A: Ub (SRB), Toulouse (FRA), Antwerp (BEL) Pool B: Miami (USA), Skyliners (GER), Vienna (AUT) Pool C: Amsterdam RABOBANK (NED), Shanghai (CHN), Utsunomiya (JPN) Pool D: Liman (SRB), Raudondvaris Hoptrans (LTU), QD A top team
Top seed Ub (SRB) enter as the team to beat, while Miami (USA) return as defending champions after winning the 2025 edition in Utsunomiya.
(See the Full Team Seedings list for more information)
How does the competition work?
On Day 1, there will first be a Qualifying Draw with Taipei WanBao (TPE), Shinagawa (JPN) and Hiratsuka (JPN). The top team at the end of the Qualifying Draw games advances to the Main Draw and joins Pool D.
The 12 teams in the Main Draw are split into four pools, with the top two teams in each pool at the end of Day 1 advancing to the Knockout rounds on Day 2.
Every game in pool play is critical, with limited spots available in the Quarter-Finals.
Which players should you watch?
Several key players enter the event in strong form or with important roles for their teams. These include Filip Kaluderovic of Ub, Henry Caruso of defending champions Miami, and Paris 2024 Olympics gold medalist Worthy de Jong of Amsterdam RABOBANK.
(See full Players list for more)
Why does Utsunomiya matter?
Utsunomiya is a cornerstone stop on the FIBA 3x3 World Tour calendar and regularly sets the tone for the season.
The 2025 edition saw Miami launch a strong FIBA 3x3 World Tour campaign with an opening victory at this event, underlining the importance of a strong start.
How can you follow?
Follow FIBA 3x3 for live coverage, highlights and updates throughout the event.
🎟️ Tickets are available here.
Official hashtags: #3x3WTUtsunomiya #3x3WT
FIBA