PARIS, FRANCE – AUGUST 06: Victor Wembanyama #32 and Evan Fournier #10 of Team France celebrate while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of Team Canada looks on during a Men’s basketball quarterfinal game between Team Canada and Team France on day eleven of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on August 06, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) has announced France as host country for the 2031 men’s basketball World Cup.
FIBA, on Wednesday, also confirmed Japan as host nation for the 2030 women’s basketball World Cup.
Three French cities – Paris, Lille and Lyon will host the world from August 29 to September 14, 2031 while Tokyo will play host to the women’s competition from November 26 to December 8, 2030.
It will be the first time France will host the men’s World Cup having previously hosted the 2015 FIBA EuroBasket and co-hosted the 2021 FIBA Women’s Basketball.
Meanwhile, France are yet to win the World Cup with their best finish being bronze medallist in 2014 and 2019 editions.
Following the decision of FIBA Central Board in Berlin, the secretary general of the world basketball governing body Andreas Zagklis said he is anticipating historic events in Japan and France.
Zagklis said: “The FIBA World Cups have become synonymous with success in large part because selecting the appropriate host each time is the cornerstone of our mission to make basketball the most popular sports community.
“The FIBA Central Board decided that the bids by both the Japanese Basketball Association (JBA) and the French Basketball Federation (FFBB) meet the high requirements we have from a FIBA World Cup host, and has entrusted them with this big responsibility.
“Japan and France are two basketball-loving nations, two destinations extremely popular with our fans, players and partners. But what makes us more excited for both 2030 and 2031 is that really rare quality that Japan and France possess, of adding their local, unique touch of excellence and flavor to make the events truly unforgettable in time.”
