Alkass English
The Mini Basketball World Cup 2026–27 got underway at Qatar Sports Club on Monday, with 32 schools representing 32 different countries competing in a tournament designed to promote the sport among young people and build excitement ahead of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027.
Organised by the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027 Local Organising Committee (LOC), in partnership with the Qatar School Sports Federation, the competition aims to introduce students to the excitement of international basketball while encouraging participation, teamwork and cultural exchange.
The opening ceremony was attended by Burton Shipley, Chairman of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027 Organising Committee; Dr Ahmad Abdulla Al Buenain, Director General of the LOC; and Predrag Bogosavljev, Director of FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027.
In a format inspired by the senior FIBA Basketball World Cup, each participating school has been assigned a country to represent, giving students an opportunity to experience the atmosphere of an international competition while learning about different cultures and traditions.
The opening day featured four matches, with Almaahad Al Dinee, representing Qatar, making an impressive start with a 64-13 victory over Nasser