ZAISAN (Mongolia) - The FIBA 3x3 World Tour heads back to Mongolia as the WT Zaisan 2026 brings some of the world's best 3x3 basketball teams back to one of the discipline's hotbeds on November 14-15.
Sixteen teams will compete for the title in the second Mongolian stop of the 2026 season, following the successful WT Ulaanbaatar earlier this year. With World Tour heavyweights, international contenders and home favorites in the mix, fans can expect two days of high-level 3x3 basketball.
Here's everything you need to know before the action gets underway.
Where is the event?
The FIBA 3x3 World Tour Zaisan 2026 will take place at Crocus Events Hall on Chinggis Khan Avenue in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia.
Zaisan is a famous hill and vibrant residential, shopping and entertainment district in the southern part of the city. The area is best known for the historic Zaisan Memorial, a landmark symbolizing unity, friendship and shared national pride.
Situated between the Tuul River and the base of the majestic Bogd Khan Mountain, Zaisan has developed into a lively cultural hub where heritage meets modern city life.
When is it?
The inaugural WT Zaisan takes place on November 14-15, with two days of action scheduled.
Schedule:
🔶 Saturday, November 14 - Qualifying Draw and Pool Games
🔶 Sunday, November 15 - Knockout Games and Finals
The tournament will begin with six teams battling for the final two Main Draw spots before the 12-team field moves into pool play.
Who are the teams?
Sixteen teams from around the world will compete in Zaisan, led by Serbian powerhouse Ub (SRB), the tournament's top seed.
Ub are followed by Amsterdam RABOBANK (NED), Liman (SRB) and Baskets Bonn (GER), completing a formidable top-four seeded lineup.
Other established contenders include Shanghai (CHN), Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy (MGL), DeQing (CHN) and Cibona Ph.Classic (CRO).
Local fans will also have two Mongolian teams to support, with Ulaanbaatar and Sansar M Bank (MGL) both featuring in the competition.
Pools
The competition begins with two Qualifying Draw groups, each featuring three teams fighting for one place in the Main Draw.
Qualifying Draw A: Toronto (CAN), Shibuya (JPN), Lausanne (SUI) Qualifying Draw B: Princeton (USA), Bordeaux (FRA), Delhi (IND)
The two Qualifying Draw winners will join the 10 directly placed teams in the 12-team Main Draw, which is divided into four pools of three.
Main Draw
Pool A: Ub (SRB), Cibona Ph.Classic (CRO), Sansar M Bank (MGL) Pool B: Amsterdam RABOBANK (NED), DeQing (CHN), Uzice Zlatiborac (SRB) Pool C: Liman (SRB), Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy MGL), QD A Pool D: Baskets Bonn (GER), Shanghai (CHN), QD B
Pool C is one of the groups to watch, featuring third seed Liman and home favorites Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy. Meanwhile, Pool D brings together Baskets Bonn and Shanghai, two teams with plenty of ambition heading into the final stretch of the season.
Check out the full team seedings and pools here.
How does the competition work?
The 16-team field begins with six teams divided into two Qualifying Draw groups of three. The winner of each group advances to the Main Draw.
Those two qualifiers join the 10 directly seeded teams to form a 12-team Main Draw, divided into four pools of three teams.
Every team plays the other two teams in its respective pool, with the top two finishers in each group advancing to the Quarter-Finals.
From there, it's win-or-go-home 3x3 basketball. The Quarter-Finals lead into the Semi-Finals and ultimately the Final, where the inaugural FIBA 3x3 World Tour Zaisan champion will be crowned on Sunday, November 15.
Who won last year?
There is no defending champion in Zaisan, as the 2026 edition marks the first-ever FIBA 3x3 World Tour stop in the Mongolian district.
That means a new champion will be crowned on November 15, adding another destination to the World Tour's list of tournament winners.
Which players should you watch?
WT Zaisan will feature several of the biggest names on the FIBA 3x3 Pro Circuit, alongside in-form contenders and local favorites looking to make their mark.
Top seed Ub will once again be led by world No.1 Strahinja Stojacic, who arrives in Mongolia after back-to-back World Tour victories in Macau and Dubai.
Olympic champion Worthy de Jong will headline second-seeded Amsterdam RABOBANK, while Stefan Milivojevic will be an important figure for third-seeded Liman following his recent Challenger title with the Serbian side.
Denzel Agyeman will be one to watch for Baskets Bonn after helping the Germans finish runners-up at WT Dubai.
The home crowd will have plenty of reasons to get behind Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy, with Latvian veteran Nauris Miezis leading the Mongolian side in its pursuit of a first World Tour title of the season.
Cameron Forte (Shanghai), Francis Lacis (DeQing) and Roko Spaseski (Cibona Ph.Classic) are also worth keeping an eye on as their respective teams look to make a statement in Mongolia.
Meet the eight players to watch at WT Zaisan 2026.
Why does Zaisan matter?
The inaugural WT Zaisan is another important milestone for 3x3 basketball in Mongolia, which continues to establish itself as one of the sport's most passionate destinations.
Following WT Ulaanbaatar earlier this year, Zaisan becomes the second Mongolian city to host a World Tour stop in the 2026 season. With a strong local following and two home teams in the field, the event promises another opportunity to showcase Mongolia's growing connection with 3x3 basketball.
The tournament also carries significant implications for the race to the FIBA 3x3 World Tour WNS Rio de Janeiro Final 2026.
With the season entering its decisive stretch, teams will be looking to collect valuable World Tour points and Main Draw victories as they pursue their places at the season-ending showpiece in Brazil.
Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy will be particularly motivated to make the most of its home-court opportunity, while Shanghai, DeQing, Toronto and Cibona Ph.Classic are among the other teams with qualification ambitions.
With the remaining World Tour stops offering fewer opportunities to improve their positions, every game in Zaisan could prove crucial.
How can you follow?
Fans can follow all the action from WT Zaisan 2026 through the official FIBA 3x3 digital platforms.
Follow @FIBA3x3 on social media for 24/7 3x3 basketball coverage, including live updates, results, highlights, behind-the-scenes content and exclusive stories.
Follow the conversation using the official hashtags #3x3WTZaisan and #3x3WT.
Stay Connected
Follow all the latest action from the FIBA 3x3 World Tour throughout the 2026 season by visiting the official World Tour website, where you can find the latest news, team standings, player statistics and everything you need to follow the Race to the Final. 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