MIES (Switzerland) –The FIBA U17 Men's Basketball World Cup 2026 is scheduled to start on the courts in Istanbul, Türkiye, from June 27 to July 5, 2026. As the world’s top young talents prepare to arrive in the historic city, FIBA has officially announced the group of referees entrusted with officiating this global event.

A diverse selection of 28 referees has been nominated to represent the global basketball community, covering all five FIBA regions: Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania. 
To ensure the highest standards of performance, the selected group will undertake a thorough 12-week preparatory program. This comprehensive journey includes technical mastery through in-depth video analysis, communication training focused on tactical awareness, and a physical conditioning plan monitored by the FIBA Referees’ Fitness Team. The preparation ends with a three-day Pre-Competition Camp in Istanbul immediately preceding the tip-off, where referees will fine-tune their chemistry as the "17th team" of the tournament.

Referee Roster Summary

The 2026 officiating crew brings together a mix of experienced referees and talents from 25 different National Federations. The gender distribution for this tournament consists of 21 male and 7 female referees.
The geographic representation is broad, with the Americas providing referees from the USA, Panama, Brazil, Uruguay, Puerto Rico, Canada, Ecuador, and Honduras. Europe is also well-represented by Greece, Spain, Montenegro, Poland, Türkiye, Estonia, Serbia, Hungary, and Latvia. The Asian contingent includes referees from China, Korea, and Kazakhstan, while Africa is represented by Madagascar, South Africa, and Rwanda. Finally, Oceania contributes skill from New Zealand and Australia. 
This global selection underscores FIBA’s unwavering commitment to the game's integrity and the development of future generations. Above all, the primary criterion for selection remains quality officiating.