Spain faces host Germany in Berlin to open 2026 Women's Basketball World Cup

Return to the world stage

Spain will begin their 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup campaign on Friday, 4 September, facing tournament host Germany at the Uber Arena in Berlin at 17:45. The fixture marks Spain's return to the world championship eight years after earning a bronze medal at the 2018 tournament in Tenerife. The Spanish national team missed the 2022 edition following a 78-74 defeat against Russia in the fifth-place game at EuroBasket 2021. Head coach Miguel Méndez leads the team into Berlin after securing consecutive European silver medals in 2023 and 2025, alongside a preparation run of five victories in five friendly fixtures against Germany, Nigeria, Belgium, Mali, and China. In FIBA's latest Power Ranking evaluation, Spain stands third overall behind the United States and France.

Tournament format and group schedule

The tournament runs from 4 to 13 September across two venues in Berlin, with the primary final phase hosted at the Uber Arena. Sixteen teams compete across four groups of four, with each group winner qualifying directly for the quarterfinals starting on 10 September. Second and third-placed teams must contest the round of 16 on 8 and 9 September to earn their spots. Spain faces a compact schedule in Group A, meeting Mali on Saturday, 5 September at 11:30, roughly 18 hours after their opening game, before completing group play against Japan on Monday, 7 September at 17:50. The tournament champion will secure direct qualification for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

I would not take anything for granted because I think every match is going to be a war.

Squad composition and WNBA presence

Spain's 12-player roster features veteran captain Alba Torrens, who holds 225 international caps and remains the sole member of the squad with previous World Cup experience. Torrens previously secured bronze medals in 2010 and 2018 as well as silver in 2014. After departing Valencia in May 2025 and training individually for several months, the 37-year-old joined Azulmarino in Mallorca in January, helping the club earn promotion to the top tier. The current roster includes young talent selected in the WNBA draft, led by 20-year-old center Awa Fam, drafted third overall by the Seattle Storm, and guard Iyana Martín, selected seventh overall.

Within the possible team structures, we have chosen those that will best represent us at a World Cup.

Roster reinforcements and group rivals

The roster also features María Conde, Maite Cazorla, and Megan Gustafson after injury absences during the previous EuroBasket tournament, alongside Alicia Flórez, Paula Ginzo, Mariona Ortiz, Helena Pueyo, and Elena Buenavida. Five players on the Spanish squad compete in the WNBA. In Group A, host nation Germany presents a lineup with WNBA and Euroleague experience including Leonie Fiebich, Alexis Peterson, Luisa Geiselsoder, and Britta Daub. Mali features forward Sika Koné, while Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medalists Japan bring a squad led by guard Mai Yamamoto.

We treat the tournament as very long. We want to be here until the 13th and compete on the 13th in the best possible time slot.