The 2026 FIBA Europe General Assembly convened in Reykjavik, Iceland, bringing together delegates from 47 of the continent’s 50 national federations. The gathering served as a platform for reviewing the past year’s competitions, assessing challenges, and charting a strategic path forward.
FIBA President Sheikh Saud Ali Al Thani took the opportunity to commend the federation’s organizational achievements, highlighting the successful staging of both the men’s and women’s EuroBaskets and the broader development programmes that have bolstered basketball across Europe.
Under the chairmanship of Jorge Garbajosa, the session featured presentations on a range of topics, from the expanding FIBA Europe Cup to the migration of young European talents into the NCAA, and the geopolitical context surrounding teams from Russia, Belarus and Israel.
A central theme was the future of European club competitions, with delegates debating the reshaping of the continental club landscape and the implications of the NBA’s growing partnership with FIBA Europe aimed at strengthening the club ecosystem.
Challenges and Opportunities in Club Competition
The assembly also addressed the upcoming major events on the calendar, notably the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup scheduled for Berlin in 2025 and the FIBA Basketball World Cup set to be hosted in France in 2031, underscoring the federation’s commitment to expanding women’s basketball.
Strategic priorities such as the “Women in Basketball” initiative, championed by Andreas Zagklis, were discussed alongside efforts to protect national team competitions and promote inclusive growth.
Economic insights were provided by Monika Puchner, CEO of FIBA Europe Properties GmbH, who presented an analysis of the sport’s commercial trajectory, while Walter Pfaller offered an overview of wheelchair basketball events, reflecting the federation’s broadened focus.
The meeting concluded with a forward‑looking outlook, confirming that the next General Assembly will take place in Munich, Germany, in May 2027, and that the 2028 Olympic 3×3 tournament will expand to 12 teams per gender, a move expected to further elevate the sport’s global profile.