High Hopes For Qatar As Host Of FIBA’s Basketball World Cup 2027

High hopes for Qatar as host of FIBA’s Basketball World Cup 2027

Photo credit: olympic.qa

After hosting the FIFA World Cup 2022 – dubbed the ‘best ever’ football tournament in history – Qatar is preparing to deliver a memorable Basketball World Cup 2027 that maximises the long-term legacy.

The countdown to the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup has already started, following the formal handover of responsibilities to the Local Organizing Committee in Qatar. During the halftime of the grand finale of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 in Manila, Manuel V Pangilinan, Chair of the Philippines Local Organizing Committee, initiated the ceremony by passing the symbolic basketball to FIBA President Hamane Niang.

Subsequently, the ball was handed over to those entrusted with overseeing what promises to be another memorable event in four years: Mr. Mohammed Saad Al Meghaiseeb, President of the Qatar Basketball Federation, and Sheikha Asma Al Thani, Director of Marketing and Communications for the Qatar Olympic Committee.

The tournament is expected to excel due to various factors highlighted in the Qatari bid, illustrated during the World Cup 2022, namely the compact geographical layout, flexible tournament venue scheduling for enhanced fan service, and a strong commitment to sustainability.

“Qatar has hosted many major events in recent years that include the World Handball Championship, World Athletics Championships, the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, and the World Judo Championships. This is one of the key factors why FIBA picked Qatar as hosts”, the President of FIBA explained during their delegation’s visit of the venues in Doha.

On Tuesday, during the FIBA delegation’s tour, the institution’s President Niang added “We are very happy and excited to be coming to the Gulf region for the first time to host the FIBA World Cup”.

The 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup promises to be an extraordinary event with Doha, the capital of Qatar, as the main venue. The tournament will be held from August 27 to September 12 of that year and will be the third to be contested with 32 teams.