The French women’s basketball team has learned their first opponents for the 2026 World Cup (September 4-13, Berlin). In the group stage, the French team, ranked 2nd globally, will face Nigeria (8th and Africa champion), South Korea (15th), and Hungary (19th). During the qualification tournament in March, they had beaten Nigeria (93-86) and South Korea (89-62).
Composition of the 2026 World Cup groups: Group A: Japan, Spain, Germany, Mali Group B: Hungary, South Korea, Nigeria, France Group C: Belgium, Australia, Puerto Rico, Turkey Group D: United States, Czech Republic, Italy, China
Placed in Pot 1 with the United States, Australia, and Germany, they avoided Belgium, the defending European champions, Spain, the runner-up of Europe in 2025, and Italy, who prevented the French team from a continental podium last year, the first time since 2007. The French team had challenged the Americans in the final of the 2024 Olympics in Bercy and could avoid facing the reigning four-time world champions (2010, 2014, 2018, 2022) until the final if they top their group.
The top four teams in each group qualify directly for the quarter-finals, while the 2nd and 3rd placed teams will compete in a playoff for a spot in the quarter-finals. The 2026 Women’s Basketball World Cup will take place from September 4 to 13 in Berlin, at two venues: the Max-Schmelling Halle (9,000 seats) and the Berlin Arena (14,000 seats). France has only stood on a world championship podium once, finishing 3rd in the inaugural edition in 1948. In 2022, they were eliminated in the quarter-finals against China.
