Doha: The full details of the eFIBA World Finals Qatar Season 4 were unveiled yesterday during a press conference at the Qatar Olympic Committee headquarters, confirming that the prestigious esports basketball tournament will be held at Mall of Qatar from July 3 to 4, 2026.
Organised by FIBA in collaboration with the Local Organising Committee, the event will bring together eight national teams from four continents, further reinforcing Qatar’s growing status as a global destination for esports and major international sporting events.
The press conference was attended by Executive Director of Communications and Guest Relations at the Local Organising Committee for the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027, Abdulla Ali Al Mawlawi; Director of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027, Predrag Bogosavljev; eFIBA World Finals Project Manager, Albert Huguet; Official Spokesperson of the Qatar Esports Federation , Jassim Ahmed Al Mohammed; and representatives of the local media.
The event began with a short film highlighting the global rise of competitive e-basketball, followed by a presentation from Al Mawlawi outlining the tournament’s format, participating nations, prize pool and promotional objectives. He also highlighted the event’s role in encouraging youth engagement while developing strategic thinking and competitive skills through esports.
The eight participating teams have been drawn into two groups. Group A features Algeria, France, Germany and the Philippines, while Group B includes hosts Qatar, the Dominican Republic, Lebanon and Türkiye. Each country will be represented by five players, bringing the total number of competitors to 40.
A total prize pool of $50,000 will be on offer. The champions will receive $20,000, while the runners-up will earn $10,000. Third place carries a prize of $6,000, with the fourth-placed team receiving $4,000.
Individual honours will also be presented, including Finals MVP, Defensive Player of the Tournament and the All-Star Five Team. The Finals MVP and Defensive Player awards each carry a prize of $2,500, while every player selected to the All-Star Five Team will receive $1,000.
The tournament forms part of Qatar’s wider strategy to promote innovation in sport while strengthening basketball’s presence within the esports ecosystem. It also serves as an important milestone on the road to the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027, helping build momentum ahead of the global showpiece.
eFIBA is the International Basketball Federation’s official esports competition, where national teams compete on the NBA 2K platform, representing their countries through their respective national basketball federations.
Officials said Qatar’s selection as host reflects its growing investment in esports, its preparations for the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027 and its internationally recognised expertise in staging world-class sporting events. The country also becomes the first in the Middle East to host the eFIBA World Finals and the first worldwide to stage the event in consecutive years.
The Organising Committee said the championship provides an important platform for expanding basketball’s reach among younger audiences, strengthening national competition in esports and creating a lasting legacy through talent development.
Al Mawlawi described the tournament as another milestone in Qatar’s sporting journey, noting that it reflects the country’s commitment to sustainability, innovation and the development of future generations of esports athletes. He also thanked all partners for their contribution to delivering a world-class event.
Predrag Bogosavljev said the eFIBA World Finals provide the perfect link between traditional basketball and the rapidly growing esports community.
“These eFIBA World Finals in Qatar represent the ideal bridge between the traditional basketball community and the fast-growing esports generation. Hosting the Season 4 World Finals is a major milestone for eFIBA and further strengthens the connection between basketball and esports on a global stage,” he said.
“The event also serves as an important milestone on the Road to Qatar for the next edition of the FIBA Basketball World Cup, helping to build excitement and engage new audiences as the country prepares to welcome the basketball world. We are grateful for the Organising Committee’s continued commitment to the sport, and as the first country to host the eFIBA World Finals for two consecutive years, Qatar is once again demonstrating its dedication to the growth of both basketball and esports.”
