FIBA Unveils Revamped 24-Month 3x3 Ranking System for LA 2028 Olympic Qualification

FIBA has officially launched a significant overhaul of its 3x3 Federation Ranking system, effective December 1, 2025, marking the commencement of the qualification race for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. This new cycle doubles the previous ranking window, aiming to provide a more stable and accurate reflection of national performance, as reported by olympics.com.

The revamped system extends the evaluation period from 12 to 24 months, a change designed to offer a more consistent and representative assessment of national team capabilities over an extended timeframe, fiba announced. This strategic shift is expected to create a fairer and more consistent pathway for nations vying for Olympic berths.

By December 2027, this extended ranking period will culminate in the identification of the first nations to secure their spots for the LA28 Games, according to statements from FIBA. The decision underscores FIBA's commitment to fostering a more sustainable and professional environment for 3x3 basketball globally, FIBA 3x3 Managing Director Alex Sanchez stated.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board further amplified the sport's Olympic presence by increasing the 3x3 basketball team quota for LA 2028. The number of competing teams will rise from eight to twelve per gender, reflecting the sport's rapid growth, insidethegames reported.

This expansion means a total of 24 teams will now participate in the 3x3 basketball tournaments at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, a substantial increase from previous Games. FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis hailed this expanded quota as a "landmark moment" for the sport, as noted by InsideTheGames.

The new ranking system is crucial for national federations, influencing tournament seedings and qualification for major events, including the Olympics, according to GoodWin Hoops. Early rankings released on December 1, 2025, show the Netherlands leading the combined table, with Serbia topping the men's rankings and the Netherlands leading the women's, olympics.com confirmed.

• Evolution of the Ranking System: The previous FIBA 3x3 Federation Ranking system operated on a 12-month cycle, which has now been doubled to 24 months. This extension, which began on December 1, 2025, aims to provide a more comprehensive and less volatile measure of a nation's performance, ensuring that Olympic qualification is based on sustained excellence rather than short-term fluctuations, as detailed by FIBA.

• Methodology of Federation Ranking: The Federation Ranking is meticulously calculated by summing the individual ranking points of a nation's top 20 players who possess a confirmed play.fiba3x3.com account. This aggregation of individual player performance across a country's elite talent forms the basis of the national ranking, with the combined federation ranking often utilizing a geometric mean of men's and women's points, according to fiba's quick guide.

• Impact on Olympic Qualification: The primary implication of this revamped system is its direct influence on the qualification pathway for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. By December 2027, the standings in this 24-month ranking window will determine the initial set of nations that secure their coveted spots, initiating an intense two-year period where every national team game will carry significant weight, fiba reported.

• Increased Olympic Participation: A significant development for 3x3 basketball at LA 2028 is the expansion of participating teams from 8 to 12 per gender, resulting in a total of 24 teams. This decision by the IOC Executive Board, announced in April 2025, reflects the sport's growing global appeal and offers more countries the opportunity to compete on the Olympic stage, as highlighted by Sportsin.biz.

• Commitment to Sustainability and Growth: FIBA officials, including 3x3 Managing Director Alex Sanchez, emphasized that these changes are integral to creating a more sustainable and professional 3x3 basketball ecosystem worldwide. The extended ranking period and increased Olympic slots are part of a broader strategy to accelerate the sport's impressive global growth and ensure its long-term viability, according to fiba statements.

• Venue for LA 2028: The 3x3 basketball events at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games are confirmed to take place at Sepulveda Park. This urban park setting, which will also host BMX freestyle, BMX racing, and skateboarding, aims to capture the vibrant and community-rooted spirit of 3x3 basketball, similar to the successful urban park concept at Paris 2024, Francs Jeux reported.

• Future Qualification Details: While the new ranking system is now active, full details regarding the specific competition format and the complete qualification system for the 3x3 basketball tournaments at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games are yet to be communicated. These crucial details will be released in the coming months, outlining how the additional spots will be distributed among various nations, Olympics.com noted.