The FIBA schedule for 2026 reaches one of its biggest dates Sunday, Sept. 13, when the United States faces France for the Women’s Basketball World Cup championship in Berlin. The matchup was confirmed Saturday after the Americans defeated Spain 76-66 and France eliminated host Germany 86-64.
USA Advances to Another World Cup Final
The United States secured its place in the championship game with a 10-point semifinal victory over Spain on Saturday.
Spain provided one of the Americans’ toughest tests of the tournament, but the defending champions recovered from adversity and completed a 76-66 win. Breanna Stewart led the U.S. with 16 points as the team extended its long run of success on the international stage.
The result sends the United States into a fifth consecutive Women’s World Cup final. The Americans are pursuing another championship after entering the tournament as the dominant force in international women’s basketball.
Their route through the knockout phase has also demonstrated their depth. The U.S. overwhelmed Hungary 108-56 in the quarterfinals before encountering considerably stronger resistance from Spain.
The championship game will determine whether that unbeaten run ends with another gold medal.
France Beats Germany to Book Historic Final
France earned the other place in Sunday’s title game with an 86-64 semifinal victory over host Germany.
Gabby Williams delivered a major performance for France, scoring 22 points and adding five rebounds. The French pulled away from a German team that had enjoyed a strong tournament in front of its home supporters.
The victory sends France into the Women’s Basketball World Cup final for the first time.
France has been one of the tournament’s most productive offensive teams. It defeated China 90-61 in the quarterfinals after posting several convincing performances earlier in the competition.
Sunday’s matchup also renews a significant international rivalry. France and the United States met in the women’s basketball gold-medal game at the Paris Olympics in 2024, when the Americans escaped with a dramatic one-point victory.
That history gives the Berlin final additional significance, although both teams arrive with substantially different circumstances and rosters from their previous championship meeting.
FIBA World Cup Schedule for Sunday, Sept. 13
The final day of the tournament features two medal games at Berlin Arena.
Spain will face Germany in the third-place game at 8:30 a.m. ET on Sunday. Both teams have an opportunity to finish the competition with a medal after falling short in Saturday’s semifinals.
The United States and France will then meet for the championship later Sunday. The gold-medal game represents the conclusion of the tournament, which began Sept. 4 with 16 national teams competing in Berlin.
The final-day schedule gives Germany one last appearance before its home crowd, followed by a championship matchup between an established global power and a French team attempting to win its first Women’s World Cup title.
Spain and Germany Turn Attention to Bronze
Saturday’s defeats leave Spain and Germany competing for third place rather than the championship.
Spain entered the semifinals after an impressive 89-66 quarterfinal victory over Australia. Its ability to challenge the United States for extended stretches Saturday reinforced the strength of a developing Spanish squad, even though the Americans eventually created enough separation to advance.
Germany’s tournament has also represented an important step forward. The host nation defeated Belgium 93-74 in the quarterfinals before running into an efficient French team in the semifinals.
A bronze medal would provide either side with a significant finish to the competition and ensure the final day begins with meaningful stakes before attention shifts to the title game.
World Cup Final Leads Busy 2026 FIBA Calendar
The Women’s Basketball World Cup is the centerpiece of the current FIBA schedule, but international and club competitions continue throughout the remainder of September.
Basketball Champions League qualification is scheduled for Sept. 14-20 in Samokov, Bulgaria, shortly after the World Cup concludes. The 2026 FIBA Intercontinental Cup follows from Sept. 22-27 in Beijing.
European club competitions also begin later in the month, including the FIBA Europe Cup, EuroCup Women and EuroLeague Women. The West Asia Super League Final 8 is scheduled to begin Sept. 26, while the Women’s Basketball League Americas starts Sept. 29.
Men’s national teams will return to World Cup qualifying action later in the year. The next qualifying window for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup is scheduled for Nov. 23-Dec. 1, continuing the process of determining which countries will reach the tournament in Qatar.
For now, the immediate focus is Berlin, where Sunday’s USA-France showdown will decide the 2026 women’s world champion.
