The 2026 FIBA Intercontinental Cup will be held in Beijing, China, from September 22 to 27, world basketball governing body FIBA confirmed on Monday. Rwanda's RSSB Tigers secured Africa's spot at the prestigious club tournament after winning the 2026 Basketball Africa League (BAL) title in Kigali in June. The Rwandan champions will compete against elite clubs from Europe, the Americas, Asia, Oceania, and North America for the title of intercontinental club champions. The FIBA Intercontinental Cup is the official annual club world championship organised by FIBA. It brings together continental champions from across the globe to determine the world's best basketball club. The tournament features six teams representing different regions and basketball competitions. Europe is represented by the Basketball Champions League (BCL) winners, while the Americas are represented by the Basketball Champions League Americas champions. Africa's representative is the BAL champion, while Asia is represented by the Basketball Champions League Asia winner. Oceania's slot goes to the National Basketball League (NBL) champion from Australia and New Zealand, while North America is represented by a selected NBA G League team or champion. Since its inception, the FIBA Intercontinental Cup has featured 36 clubs from six continents across 35 editions. European teams have dominated the competition, winning a record 24 titles. So far, the champions of the 2026 Basketball Champions League in Europe (Rytas Vilnius of Lithuania), the Basketball Champions League Americas (Boca Juniors of Argentina), and the Basketball Africa League (RSSB Tigers of Rwanda) have confirmed their places in this year's tournament. The remaining participating teams will be announced at a later date.
