MIES (Switzerland) - FIBA has announced the list of 44 referees nominated to officiate the upcoming four Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 Qualifying Tournaments. This essential step marks the progression on the "Road to Berlin," where the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 will take place from September 4-13, 2026.

The nominated group demonstrates the global nature of the tournament, featuring referees from 32 countries across five continents. Significantly, the list includes 12 female referees, highlighting FIBA's commitment to promoting Women in Basketball. All referees are carefully selected based on their performance level on the court. This diverse and experienced crew is set to safeguard the high standards of officiating across all tournament venues.

Host Cities Ready for Action

The four Qualifying Tournaments, scheduled to run from March 11-17, 2026, will be hosted across the globe in:
•    Wuhan, China
•    Lyon-Villeurbanne, France
•    Istanbul, Türkiye
•    San Juan, Puerto Rico

These tournaments will feature 24 national teams competing for the remaining spots in the main event in Berlin. With the host nations and Continental Cup winners already guaranteed places, the competition is expected to be fierce as teams battle for the qualification slots.

All nominated referees and instructors will complete an eight-week Pre-Competition Program (PCP) from January to March. This program is designed to build strong teamwork and unity among the referees before they even arrive at the venues. It also focuses on setting a common, high standard for all technical and protocol details, ensuring the games are called with maximum consistency across every venue.

FIBA