FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis addressed the organization's decision to retain the name "FIBA Basketball World Cup" without the addition of "Men’s" during a press conference held before the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup. He indicated that the Central Board has discussed the naming convention but remains committed to the current terminology, stating, "We do not see that the aspect of men’s and women’s is something that devalues or values the other World Cup in such a way."
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FIBA officially categorizes its women’s tournament as the "FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup" but does not apply a gender qualifier to the men's tournament title. Zagklis noted that the organization is considering broader concerns regarding the separation of men's and women's categories, as well as ongoing studies about competition eligibility.
The Secretary General did not specifically mention transgender athletes but acknowledged that FIBA is reviewing transgender eligibility and has developed an interim approach during this process. Following the International Olympic Committee's policy on the female category, FIBA confirmed in April that it would adhere to the IOC’s guidelines for Olympic events, while continuing to seek additional guidance on implementation.
Competitions run by FIBA, including the World Cups, are subject to a separate review process. In December 2024, the Central Board voted to extend its formal transgender eligibility policy review by two years, with a Gender Eligibility Committee of medical and legal experts expected to provide recommendations by early 2027. Until that time, FIBA will not consider eligibility requests related to transgender participation.
Zagklis' comments come in the context of ongoing debates within women's professional basketball, particularly in the WNBA, where the rules regarding participation of transgender athletes have become a contentious topic. The WNBA's collective bargaining agreement currently restricts participation to women without explicitly defining the term, which has led to public demonstrations both in support of and against the inclusion of transgender women and girls in female sports.
While the WNBA has yet to formulate a new standard for eligibility, FIBA is actively pursuing a formal review process and has created an expert committee. Though specific guidelines have not been detailed, Zagklis's remarks emphasize that the absence of "men’s" in the World Cup name reflects a broader ongoing discussion about eligibility criteria in both men’s and women’s competitions.