FIBA partners with Virtual Venue for Basketball World Cups 2026 and 2027

FIBA, the International Basketball Federation and the global governing body for basketball, has selected Virtual Venue as its official platform for venue planning and event operations. This is a decisive move towards efficiency, sustainability, and digital transformation at the heart of some of the world’s biggest basketball tournaments.

After a successful debut collaboration during the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia, the federation is now fully adopting Virtual Venue for its flagship competitions:

- FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 (Germany)

- FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 (Qatar)

Virtual Venue will become a core operational platform across FIBA’s event ecosystem. See how we support international sports federations.

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What is FIBA?

FIBA (Fédération Internationale de Basketball) is the international federation responsible for overseeing and organising world basketball competitions. Recognised by the International Olympic Committee, it governs the rules of the sport, international tournaments, and global rankings.

Founded in 1932, FIBA is headquartered in Switzerland and operates competitions including:

• The FIBA Basketball World Cup (men’s and women’s)
• Olympic basketball tournaments
• Continental championships (e.g. EuroBasket, AfroBasket)
• Youth world championships
  

Why Virtual Venue?

Before committing to a long-term partnership, FIBA evaluated what truly matters in modern event delivery: clarity, consistency, and control at scale. With operations becoming increasingly complex and spanning multiple countries, it was evident that traditional tools could no longer keep pace.

What they needed was a centralized, collaborative, and future-ready platform. That’s where Virtual Venue proves its value.

"We’re excited to embark on this project after our successful cooperation around the last World Cup. We’re looking forward to exploiting the full potential of this powerful online venue planning solution, ensuring we have one source of truth and a standardised planning approach for all stakeholders across the event organization, while leveraging the many functionalities and possibilities the platform provides." Ashley Green, FIBA Head of Events

‍Standardization across borders
With events spanning multiple countries and continents, FIBA required a single source of truth for all venue planning. Virtual Venue enables:

• Real-time collaboration between global and local teams
• Consistent processes across sites and stakeholders
• Seamless integration of data, visuals, and workflows

Efficient, digital-first operations
Virtual Venue replaces outdated methods such as spreadsheets, emails, and paper-based plans. The platform streamlines:

• Asset management
• Operational checklists
• Site visit reports
• Setup timelines and logistics

Alignment with sustainability goals
By centralizing planning in a digital environment, FIBA is able to significantly reduce:

• Unnecessary travel for inspections
• Reliance on printed documents and physical resources
• Duplicate efforts and wasted time across teams

What to expect in 2026 and 2027

1. Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 – Germany
FIBA is committed to delivering a seamless, athlete-first experience in one of Europe’s most advanced sports markets. With Virtual Venue, organizers will be able to:

• Map and configure multiple venues with precision
• Ensure readiness across both practice and competition sites
• Streamline accreditation and logistics processes

2. Men’s Basketball World Cup 2027 – Qatar
Qatar continues to invest heavily in world-class sports infrastructure. With Virtual Venue, FIBA can:

• Coordinate efficiently across a complex network of venues and services
• Visualize spaces for broadcasting, hospitality, fan zones, and security
• Adapt to last-minute changes with real-time updates and collaboration tools

By investing in technology now, FIBA ensures that basketball remains at the forefront of sports innovation.

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How Virtual Venue complements venue management systems

While traditional venue management systems handle venue scheduling, maintenance, and logistics, Virtual Venue adds a strategic planning layer through digital twins.
It enables organisers to visualise stadium layouts, simulate crowd and traffic flows, and coordinate multi-venue operations in one shared platform as seen in its collaboration with FIBA for the Basketball World Cups 2026 and 2027.