QATAR WIN BID RACE TO HOST 2027

Fiba Basketball World Cup

QATAR HAS TRIUMPHED IN THE RACE TO HOST THE 2027 FIBA BASKETBALL WORLD CUP. THIS ACHIEVEMENT SHOWCASES QATAR'S DEDICATION TO SPORTS DEVELOPMENT AND ITS CAPACITY TO ORGANIZE MAJOR EVENTS. THE MILESTONE ALSO OFFERS ARAB TEAMS INCREASED OPPORTUNITIES FOR GLOBAL REPRESENTATION AND COMPETITION.

DURING a meeting in Manila on April 28, 2023, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) revealed that Qatar has been granted the privilege of hosting the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup. This marks the first time the tournament will be held in the Middle East and North Africa region.

The FIBA Central Board made its decision after carefully assessing proposals from various candidate countries, ultimately selecting Qatar as the top choice for the 2027 edition. Several factors contributed to the Board's preference for the Qatari bid, including its outstanding facilities, commitment to sports development in general and basketball specifically, and a strong track record in organizing major sports events.

FIBA President Hamane Niang said after the announcement was made: "The Central Board was highly impressed by the submission made by the Qatar Basketball Federation. On behalf of the Board, I congratulate them for the excellent work they've already done in assembling this bid. We are thrilled to award the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 to Qatar."

Niang added that while everyone eagerly anticipates the event in Qatar, they will also enjoy the journey to Doha, as the qualification process for the World Cup has been a tremendous success since its inception in 2017.

The Qatari proposal places special emphasis on legacy plans, underscoring the tournament's role in promoting basketball development in the region and globally. Given the readiness of the sports facilities slated to host the 2027 Basketball World Cup, this iteration is poised to be the most sustainable in its history.

Qatar maintains its impressive streak of hosting major sporting events, having recently secured the rights to host the FIBA World Cup 2027. Following the organization of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the country is preparing to host the 2023 FIFA Asian Cup for the third time in its history, after 1988 and 2011, as well as the 21st Asian Games in 2030, for a second time, after first hosting in 2006.

Qatari basketball boasts a rich history, with the Qatar Basketball Federation established in 1964 and subsequently joining international and regional federations. The first notable achievement for Qatari basketball was winning the AFC U-17 Youth Championship title in 1988, the first Asian championship hosted in Qatar. The Qatari youth team also qualified for the 1999 FIBA World Cup in Portugal, finishing in 10th place. Additionally, Qatar won the 2014 FIBA 3x3 World Championship and topped the world rankings for three consecutive years.

The nation's basketball stars, both male and female under the age of 23, have qualified for the Basketball World Cup. Furthermore, the boys' and girls' teams under 18 years old have qualified for the World Championship, set to take place in Hungary in August 2023.