By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
At today’s crucial EuroLeague meeting, a vote was held on whether to expand the league, and it was decided that two more teams will be added, bringing the total to 20.
The expansion has been officially confirmed, as it was announced that “the Board approved the proposal to expand the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague to 20 teams beginning with the 2025–26 season.”
It was also stated that “the Board agreed to present a preliminary list of proposed participating teams, contingent upon the completion of all required formalities,” and that it “held initial discussions regarding potential additional expansion scenarios for seasons beyond 2025–26.”
Starting from the 2025/26 season, Valencia and Dubai BC are expected to join the competition, alongside last season’s teams — excluding ALBA Berlin, which moved to the Basketball Champions League — and EuroCup winners Hapoel Tel Aviv.
The round-robin format will remain in place, with the addition of more double weeks to accommodate the expanded schedule and a break for FIBA windows is not expected to be possible.
All teams that are entering the league via wildcards will receive three-year licenses. Hapoel Tel Aviv will secure a one-year spot after winning the EuroCup. Final decisions are pending regarding Paris and Dubai, which are both considered special cases due to the markets they represent.
This EuroLeague change is coming just two days after the meeting with FIBA and the NBA in Geneva. It essentially proves that the collaboration between all sides involved in the future of European basketball is getting more and more complicated, considering the fact that Dubai entered the EuroLeague, and this is something that the NBA excluded from their European plans.