The short version: The FIBA Intercontinental Cup is a global club showcase, uniting continental champions. The tournament brings winning clubs from different continents together to compete.
Key takeaways
- Unites champions from FIBA's continental leagues and the NBA G League.
- Beijing will host the tournament for a three-year cycle from 2026 through 2028.
- European clubs dominate historically with 24 total trophies, 12 from Spain.
- The tournament format features six teams split into two groups of three.
- The FIBA Intercontinental Cup was introduced in 1966 to bring winning clubs from different continents together to compete.
A Global Club Showcase
The FIBA Intercontinental Cup was introduced in 1966. The aim of the competition has always been to bring winning clubs from different continents together to compete. Recently, FIBA and Sport Singapore entered a three-year partnership that brought the FIBA Intercontinental Cup to Asia for the first time, with Singapore Sports Hub as the venue from 2023 through 2025. Now, Beijing is set to host the FIBA Intercontinental Cup over a three-year period from 2026 to 2028, taking over from Singapore, with the first edition in China tipping off in late September in 2026. Shape International Club Competitions | About FIBA Unicaja crowned FIBA Intercontinental Cup champions again | About FIBA Beijing set to host FIBA Intercontinental Cup through 2028 - 2026 FIBA Intercontinental Cup | FIBA Basketball
Historically, up until 2021, only teams from Europe and the Americas had taken part in the FIBA Intercontinental Cup. The tournament has since expanded to include other regions, with African clubs first playing in 2022, Asian clubs joining in 2023, and Oceania being included for the first time in 2024.
History and Continental Dominance
Europe's silverware tally in the FIBA Intercontinental Cup is 24 trophies, with Spanish clubs accounting for 12 of those conquests.
In recent tournaments, the Spanish club Unicaja Malaga, who competed as the Basketball Champions League Europe winners, became the first team to successfully defend their FIBA Intercontinental Cup crown over the past 47 years. In doing so, Unicaja defeated NBA G League United 71-61 in the Final, repeating the outcome from last year's championship game in Singapore. Prior to this run, their Spanish compatriots Real Madrid were the last team to win consecutive FIBA Intercontinental Cup trophies, claiming three in a row from the year 1976 to the year 1978. Meanwhile, the last team from the United States to win the FIBA Intercontinental Cup was the Maryland Terrapins in the year 1974. Group B: Who is playing FIBA Intercontinental Cup in Singapore? | FIBA Basketball
Qualification Paths and Regional Representatives
The winners of the 2026 editions of the Basketball Champions League in Europe, the Basketball Champions League Americas, and the Basketball Africa League have secured their places in the 2026 competition. Additionally, the winner of the BCL Asia earns the right to represent the continent at the FIBA Intercontinental Cup, FIBA's highest-tier club competition. Leagues | About FIBA
Oceania was included for the first time in 2024, Asian clubs joined in 2023, and African clubs first played in 2022. For instance, the NBL champions, Tasmania JackJumpers, were invited to represent Oceania in the FIBA Intercontinental Cup 2024 in Singapore. Furthermore, Utsunomiya Brex finished sixth, but still go down in history as the first team from Japan to take part in the FIBA Intercontinental Cup. FIBA Intercontinental Cup global expansion peaks with inclusion of Oceania | FIBA Basketball
Competition Format and the Beijing Cycle
The FIBA Intercontinental Cup 2025 tournament format features groups where each group competes in a single round robin format. Under this competition format, the two group winners square off in the Final to determine the champion of the tournament. Meanwhile, the two group runners-up meet in the Third-Place Game to compete, and the teams that finish third in their respective groups play for fifth place overall. Line-up for the FIBA Intercontinental Cup 2025 in Singapore is set as ticket sales start today | FIBA Basketball
Beijing is set to host the FIBA Intercontinental Cup over a three-year period from 2026 to 2028, taking over from Singapore. Previously, FIBA and Sport Singapore entered a three-year partnership that brought the FIBA Intercontinental Cup to Asia for the first time, with Singapore Sports Hub as the venue from 2023 through 2025. In this period, Alahli SC became the first African team to finish on the podium by defeating Brazil's Flamengo 91-82 in the Third-Place Game.
