2031 World Cup to Be Held in France, Returning Tournament to Europe

FIBA officially confirmed that France will host the 2031 men's basketball World Cup, a decision that will bring the tournament back to European soil for the first time since 2014. The championship will take place between August 29 and September 14, with several major French cities serving as venues for the event.

The selected host cities will be Lille, Lyon, and Paris, while the final phase will take place in the French capital, where the new world champion will be crowned.

France's designation marks the return of the World Cup to Europe following a lengthy cycle held in Asia. The 2019 edition took place in China, while the 2023 tournament was shared between the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia. Before the French event, the next World Cup will be held in 2027 in Qatar.

For France, this represents a new opportunity to position itself at the center of international basketball, reinforcing its organizational influence after recently hosting major sporting events and consolidating world-class infrastructure for global competitions.

The selection also confirms FIBA's commitment to strong markets with a basketball tradition, in a country that has been growing in both NBA talent and competitive presence in international tournaments for years.