Doha: As part of Qatar’s preparations to host the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup, the Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF) has announced the launch of the Lusail 3×3 Challenger International Tournament on Friday, May 2, 2025.
The two-day tournament is being held under the supervision of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and in cooperation with the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027 Organizing Committee and Qatari Diar.
The tournament, which is part of the Challenger series supervised by FIBA and considered a major global sporting event, will be held at Al Saad Square in Lusail Park, one of Qatar’s most prominent modern cultural landmarks. The tournament includes 16 teams from around the world, with the competition system divided into two stages:
Preliminary stage (qualifiers): Six teams will participate, divided into two groups, with the top team from each group advancing to the group stage.
Main stage (group stage): 12 teams, including 10 direct qualifiers and the two teams that qualified from the qualifiers, will be divided into four groups.
Qualifier details
The qualifiers will be held on Friday, May 2, and the teams will be divided as follows:
Group A: Al-Gharafa of Qatar, Kaunas of Lithuania, and Nishinomiya of Japan.
Group B: Al-Doha of Qatar, Al-Khor of Qatar, and Kigali of Rwanda.
The top team from each group will advance to the group stage. The team that qualifies from Group A will join Group C, which includes Partizan of Serbia and Lugano of Switzerland, while the team that qualifies from Group B will join Group D, which includes New York Harlem of the United States and Carolina of Puerto Rico. Group Stage Groups
The 12 teams were divided into four groups as follows:
Group A: Al-Wakrah of Qatar, Marbella of Spain, and Toulouse of France.
Group B: Al-Rayyan of Qatar, Partizan of Serbia, and Kandava of Latvia.
Group C: Partizan of Serbia, Lugano of Switzerland, and the team that qualified from Group A in the playoffs.
Group D: New York Harlem of the United States, Carolina of Puerto Rico, and the team that qualified from Group B in the playoffs.
Knockout Stage Qualification System
After the group stage, eight teams will advance to the quarterfinals, which will be held on the evening of the second day (Saturday, May 3). The top team from Group A will meet the runner-up from Group C in the quarterfinals, and the top team from Group D will meet the runner-up from Group B. The winners will then meet in the semifinals.
The top team from Group C will meet the runner-up from Group A, and the top team from Group B will meet the runner-up from Group D. The two winners will then meet in the semifinals. The final will be between the two semifinal winners.
The Lusail 3×3 Challenger International is one of a number of tournaments and events organized by the State of Qatar leading up to the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup. The Qatar Basketball Federation and local partners continue their efforts to attract major sporting events and enhance Qatar’s global standing in this sport.
The tournament is expected to attract large numbers of fans and visitors to Lusail City, thanks to its vibrant location, the unique atmosphere provided by the organizing committee, and the accompanying activities and events.
The Lusail 3×3 Challenger International brings together an elite group of international basketball teams, including prominent international and Qatari teams. The tournament is considered a qualifying event for the Masters tournaments on the 3×3 World Tour, adding significant sporting value and attracting international teams seeking to qualify and participate in major tournaments within this series. It is an opportunity for teams to experience a high level of competition in preparation for upcoming global competitions.
