Qatar is set to host another World Cup, adding basketball to the sports portfolio of a small country with long-term ambitions to host the Olympics.
The International Basketball Federation chose Qatar to host the 2027 edition of the Men’s World Cup from its marquee on Friday. There was no voting among the competing bids.
Doha will stage all matches of the 32-team event at pre-existing venues, FIBA said, also citing upgraded metro and public transport networks completed for last year’s men’s soccer World Cup.
Qatar faced harsh criticism during a massive 12-year construction project for the soccer World Cup over the gas-rich nation’s treatment of its migrant workforce. FIBA made no reference to labor or human rights issues when announcing its decision, which came on the eve of the draw for the 2023 tournament.
Asked how it views rights issues, FIBA said in a statement that since no construction is needed in Qatar, «the time and cost savings from not building new venues will be focused on delivering the strongest social legacy.» possible».
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«With all the teams playing in the same city, fans can plan everything well in advance and enjoy a unique experience as all venues are within 30 minutes of each other,» the Swiss-based governing body said. «In addition, all venues to be used for FIBA’s flagship men’s event are already built, while widely used green technologies will help make the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 a zero-carbon event.» .
FIBA said other candidates it did not identify entered the hosting process, but Qatar was «the first to submit an offer that met the standard conditions.»
Qatar’s government said in a statement that its «celebrated portfolio of organizing mega sports events gave FIBA the confidence to confirm the decision without hesitation.»
Qatar’s Hashim Zaidan, left, and Australia’s Sam Mackinnon play basketball during the first round Group C match at the Basketball World Championships in Hamamatsu, Japan on August 24, 2006. The International Basketball Federation chose to Qatar to host the 2027 edition of its men’s World Cup. (AP Photo/David Longstreath, File)
The Qatari team, ranked 89th in the ranking, will automatically qualify as host. Qatar last played in the event at the 2006 world championships, losing all five of its games.
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The Women’s World Cup in 2026 will be hosted by Germany, FIBA also decided on Friday. The 16-team tournament will be played in Berlin.
Qatar is the third consecutive Asian host of the men’s tournament. China hosted in 2019 and the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia will host this year’s edition from August 25 to September 25. 10. Spain is the defending champion.
Qatar’s sporting reception peaked, but it didn’t stop with the soccer World Cup. The basketball World Cup will be one of its big events before hosting the 2030 Asian Games, which will use some stadiums built for the soccer tournament.
A long-term goal for Qatar is to host the Olympics, although the next available opportunity for the Summer Games is the 2036 edition because hosts for 2028 and 2032 have already been chosen.
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A Doha bid for the 2032 Games was in the works when the International Olympic Committee moved quickly to pick Brisbane without putting rival bidders to a vote.
The IOC’s 100-member group includes Qatar’s emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who joined the Olympic body in 2002 as one of its youngest members at the age of 21.
Doha attempted to enter the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games host contests, but was denied bid status by the IOC. The main barrier was that the IOC insisted that the games take place between July and August, when temperatures in Doha typically top 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).