FIBA U-18 Asia Cup 2026 might be held in Ahmedabad from August 13 to 23, FIBA Regional Workplace-Asia introduced on Thursday.
This might be solely the third time India hosts the biennial continental youth event.
The highest 4 groups from the competitors will qualify for the FIBA Below-19 Basketball World Cup, which might be held in Pardubice, Czechia, from June 26 to July 4, 2027.
Australia will enter the event because the defending champion after profitable the title in Amman, Jordan, in 2024. It will likely be joined by fellow 2024 finalist New Zealand and 13 different groups, which can come by way of qualification occasions throughout FIBA Asia sub-zones.
The 16 groups might be divided into 4 teams of 4 for the round-robin group stage. The highest three groups from every group will progress to the knockout part.
The variety of qualifying spots from every sub-zone might be determined by way of a mix of fastened slots and the efficiency of groups from that sub-zone within the 2024 version.
The South Asian Basketball Affiliation qualifier might be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, from Could 25 to 29, 2026, with one group qualifying. The East Asia Basketball Affiliation qualifier will happen in Fukuoka, Japan, from June 2 to 7, with 4 groups advancing.
The Southeast Asian Basketball Affiliation U18 Qualifiers might be performed in Krabi, Thailand, from June 10 to 14, with two groups making it to the principle event. The Gulf Basketball Affiliation qualifier might be held in Doha, Qatar, from the place three groups will qualify.
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India final hosted the event, then referred to as the FIBA Asia U18 Championship, in Bengaluru in 2004. Iran received all its eight matches that yr and beat Korea within the last to assert its first continental title in any class.
Earlier than that, India hosted the occasion in Kolkata in 1998, a event remembered for the worldwide debut of Yao Ming. The Chinese language centre led his group to the sixth of its report seven titles earlier than turning into one of the crucial influential figures in Asian basketball.
Ahmedabad has emerged as a significant sporting hub in India in recent times. Town is residence to the Narendra Modi Stadium, the world’s largest cricket stadium with a capability of 132,000, and can also be set to host the 2030 Commonwealth Video games. Additionally it is a part of India’s confirmed bid for the 2036 Olympics.
Printed on Could 13, 2026