By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
France has been awarded the FIBA World Cup 2031 hosting rights, marking the first time the nation will welcome the flagship tournament, running from August 29 to September 14, 2031, across Paris, Lille, and Lyon. Building on the momentum of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, this event places France as a global basketball hub and seeks to maximize capacity for the final stages.
“We are centralizing things around the Ile-de-France region, and it also makes sense because our key player, Victor Wembanyama, comes from Nanterre, his home club. Giving him the opportunity to potentially play a World Cup Final in his city could be something extraordinary,” stated French Federation of Basketball president Jean-Pierre Hunckler, reacting to the FIBA Central Board decision on Wednesday.
The knockout stage is set for the Paris La Defense Arena in Nanterre, with Hunckler confirming a central court configuration designed for 35,000 spectators. This ambitious plan follows the record-breaking attendance at the World Cup 2023 in the Philippines, aiming to set a high benchmark for the tournament’s conclusion.
“The court will not be positioned as it was for the Nanterre games. It will be located in the center of La Defense Arena, which will allow us to reach a capacity of 35,000 seats, with some leeway. There was a proposal for 40,000 seats, but to be on the safe side, we developed the bid plan with a 35,000-seat venue,” said the experienced executive, presenting a vision to place the French capital near the historic 38,115-fan milestone set in the Philippines.
Beyond the capital, the tournament will utilize a sustainable logistical model connecting Lille, Lyon, and Paris via high-speed rail. “This configuration is linked to FIBA’s requirements, with new arenas,” noted Hunkler. “We wanted an environmentally friendly event. Lille is one hour from Paris by high-speed train, and Lyon is less than two hours away.”