Updated

Updated · FIBA · Sep 11

FIBA Sets Women’s World Cup 2026 Semifinals as France, Germany, USA and Spain Advance

Updated

Updated · FIBA · Sep 11

FIBA Sets Women’s World Cup 2026 Semifinals as France, Germany, USA and Spain Advance

Q: Can host nation Germany's historic momentum shatter France's 73-year quest for a World Cup final appearance tomorrow?

Yes — Germany has a real chance to end France’s long wait, but France still looks the slightly stronger side on form. Germany’s case is built on momentum and circumstance. The hosts are in their first-ever Women’s World Cup semi-final, have won five straight games, and just produced one of the tournament’s biggest results by beating European champion Belgium 93-74. Leonie Fiebich and Nyara Sabally were outstanding in that win, and Berlin’s home crowd has clearly been a factor. Recent history also favors hosts in this event: this is the sixth straight World Cup in which the host nation has reached the final four. France, however, arrive with the more convincing overall body of work. They crushed China 90-61 in the quarter-finals, have won all four of their games by a combined 156 points, and have been one of the tournament’s most balanced teams. Marine Johannès, Janelle Salaün and Gabby Williams have led an attack that can score in volume, while France’s defense effectively neutralized China’s 7-foot-3 Zhang Ziyu. They also set a World Cup single-game record for 3-pointers during group play. So Germany can absolutely shatter France’s 73-year quest for a first final appearance, especially if the energy from Berlin carries them early and their frontcourt controls the glass. But France’s deeper tournament dominance, offensive spacing and defensive consistency make them a narrow favorite going into Saturday’s semi-final.

3 articles · Updated · FIBA · Sep 11

Saturday’s semifinals in Berlin are set as France face Germany at 16:30 local time and USA meet Spain at 20:00, with the two winners advancing to the final.
France reached the last four for the first time since 1953 after beating China, while Germany moved into its first World Cup semifinal and carries a four-game winning streak after upsetting European champion Belgium.
USA entered a 13th straight top-four finish after a record-breaking quarterfinal win over Hungary and is chasing a fifth consecutive final, while Spain returned to the semifinals for the first time since its 2010-2018 run.
Berlin Arena will host both games as the tournament’s final phase narrows to a mix of first-time semifinalists and established contenders.