FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifiers Ahmedabad Bring Pride
Ahmedabad to Host Gujarat’s First FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifier Matches
Ahmedabad is set to host one of the biggest international basketball events ever held in Gujarat, with the city preparing to stage matches in the FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers in July. It will be the first time that Gujarat has hosted fixtures linked to basketball’s premier global competition, marking another step in the state’s growing involvement in international sport.
The matches will be played at the Veer Savarkar Indoor Stadium in Naranpura, Ahmedabad, with the Indian men’s basketball team scheduled to face Qatar on 2 July at 6 pm and Lebanon on 5 July at 8.30 pm. Both games form part of the qualification pathway for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup, which will be held in Qatar.
The International Basketball Federation, better known as FIBA, oversees the qualification process across Asia and Oceania. The current qualifying cycle began in November 2025 and will continue until March 2027, with national teams competing over several windows in a home-and-away format for places at the global tournament. Seven teams from the region will eventually join host nation Qatar at the finals.
The Gujarat State Basketball Association confirmed that the Ahmedabad fixtures will be the first FIBA World Cup qualifier matches ever staged in the state. The development comes at a time when Gujarat has been investing heavily in sports facilities and seeking to attract national and international competitions. Social media announcements from basketball authorities and organisers have described the event as a first for Gujarat basketball.
The decision to award the matches to Ahmedabad follows a series of major sporting events hosted by the city in recent years. Officials involved in the tournament said the successful organisation of an international volleyball championship at the same venue demonstrated the city’s ability to manage large multi-nation events within a short period. Ahmedabad recently hosted the 2026 AVC Men’s Volleyball Nations Cup, India’s first time as host of the tournament.
Shakti Singh Gohil, President of the Gujarat State Basketball Association, described the event as an important moment for the sport in Gujarat.
“Hosting the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifiers for the first time is a historic milestone for the state,” he said.
He credited the Government of Gujarat and the Sports Authority of Gujarat for supporting preparations and helping bring the tournament to Ahmedabad.
The Sports Authority of Gujarat has expanded sports infrastructure across the state over the past decade, with facilities for athletics, football, swimming, shooting and indoor sports being developed in several cities. State officials have repeatedly stated their intention to position Gujarat as a destination for national and international sporting events.
Shafiq Sheikh said the tournament represented more than a series of basketball matches.
“By successfully hosting an international volleyball championship and now the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifiers, Gujarat is proving its capability to organise major global sporting events,” he said.
He added that the association looked forward to welcoming participating teams, FIBA representatives and supporters attending the matches.
The qualifiers will also carry a social message. Umesh Pathak, Vice President of the Gujarat State Basketball Association, said organisers would promote anti-drug awareness during the event under the slogans “Say No to Drugs, Say Yes to Life” and “Drug-Free India”.
“Sports have the power to guide youth toward a healthy, disciplined, and purposeful life,” he said.
He also thanked Gujarat Police for supporting the arrangements surrounding the tournament.
Ahmedabad District Basketball Association President Mukesh Amin said the city was preparing to host teams and officials from India, Qatar and Lebanon.
“As India’s first UNESCO World Heritage City, Ahmedabad proudly represents a unique blend of rich culture, hospitality, and modern sporting infrastructure,” he said.
Ahmedabad became India’s first UNESCO World Heritage City in 2017 and has since used major cultural and sporting events to strengthen its international profile.
Basketball itself remains a developing sport in India compared with cricket, football and badminton, but administrators have been attempting to increase its reach through international events and domestic competitions. The Basketball Federation of India’s international calendar lists the July fixtures in India as part of the third qualifying window for the World Cup campaign.
The city is also expected to remain busy on the basketball calendar later this year. FIBA announced earlier that Ahmedabad will host the FIBA Under-18 Asia Cup in August 2026, bringing some of Asia’s leading youth players to the city. Organisers believe the back-to-back tournaments could help increase local interest in the sport and encourage greater participation among young players in Gujarat.
Officials from the Gujarat State Basketball Association and the Basketball Federation of India said preparations are under way to receive players, coaches, technical delegates and international guests. Volunteers and event staff are expected to support operations throughout the tournament.
For Indian basketball supporters, the Ahmedabad fixtures will offer a rare opportunity to watch the national team compete in a World Cup qualifying campaign on home soil as India continues its attempt to reach the sport’s biggest international stage.
