FIBA

The International Basketball Federation (French: Fédération Internationale de Basketball) is an association of national organizations which governs the sport of basketball worldwide.

FIBA defines the rules of basketball, specifies the equipment and facilities required, organizes international competitions, regulates the transfer of athletes across countries, and controls the appointment of international referees. A total of 213 national federations are now members, organized since 1989 into five zones: Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania.

FIBA organizes both the men’s and women’s FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament and the Summer Olympics Basketball Tournament, which are sanctioned by the IOC. The FIBA Basketball World Cup is a world tournament for men’s national teams held every four years.

Teams compete for the Naismith Trophy, named in honor of basketball’s American-Canadian creator James Naismith. The tournament structure is similar but not identical to that of the FIFA World Cup in footbal. A parallel event for women’s teams, the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, is also held quadrennially. The women’s tournament is held in the same year as the FIFA World Cup.

In 2009, FIBA announced three new tournaments: two 12-team Under-17 World Cups (one each for men and women), and an eight-team FIBA World Club Championship. However, the FIBA World Club Championship did not materialize. In its place, FIBA instead relaunched its original world club championship for men, the FIBA Intercontinental Cup.

The global FIBA tournaments for national teams are in the three-player half-court variation, 3×3. The FIBA 3×3 Under-18 World Cup was inaugurated in 2011, and the FIBA 3×3 World Cup for senior teams followed a year later. The U-18 cups, which are held annually, feature 32 teams in each individual tournament. The senior cups have 24 teams in each individual tournament, and are held in even-numbered years.