Rwanda has been drawn in Group D alongside Great Britain, Argentina and Lebanon at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 pre-qualifying tournaments slated for August 19-25 in Mexico City and Kigali. According to the draw held in Switzerland, Groups A and B games of the pre-qualifiers will play in Mexico City, Mexico while Group C and D will take place in Kigali. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals of each pre-qualifier and two winners of each tournament will qualify for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup qualifying tournaments due in 2026. ALSO READ: Basketball: Rwanda welcomes ‘historic’ World Cup pre-qualifiers The draw was attended by Rwanda’s Sports Minister Aurore Mimosa Munyangaju, FIBA President Sheikh Saud Ali Al Thani and FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis. Speaking during the draw, Munyangaju said that hosting the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 pre-qualifier marks a significant occasion, not only for Rwanda but for the entire African continent. “It also symbolizes the recognition of Rwanda's growing prominence in the global sporting industry and underscores our commitment to fostering the development of basketball, particularly women's basketball on our continent. It is a platform to empower our young girls showing them that, with dedication and determination, they can compete at the highest level”.” “I wish to thank FIBA for the support and the opportunity for hosting this world class basketball tournament,” she noted. The FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 qualifying tournaments will involve 24 teams including two winners of the Mexico and Rwanda pre-qualifiers and a further 22 teams determined by results in the FIBA Women's Continental Cups 2025. The pre-qualifying tournaments are an important part of the expansion of the women's competition system where the aim is to grant a larger number of national federations meaningful and regular international competition. A total of 16 nations, including hosts Germany, will punch their tickets through the qualifying tournaments in 2026 and compete at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026. The 16 teams were divided into four groups of four teams each. Group A: Korea, Mali, Czechia and Venezuela Group B: Mexico, Montenegro, New Zealand and Mozambique Group C: Brazil, Hungary, Senegal and Philippines Group D: Rwanda, Great Britain, Argentina and Lebanon.
