Gilas Women draw France, Korea in World Cup qualifiers

Gilas Pilipinas Women are set to face some of the world’s top basketball teams in the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup qualifiers following the official draw on October 7.

The Philippines, ranked No. 39 globally, was placed in the Lyon-Villeurbanne group alongside No. 3 France, No. 15 Korea, No. 12 Germany, No. 8 Nigeria, and No. 19 Colombia.

Only the top two teams from the group will earn qualification spots for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup, raising the stakes for the underdog Gilas squad.

The Philippines qualified for the tournament after a Top 6 finish in the 2025 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup, marking a significant milestone in the team’s regional campaign.

The Lyon-Villeurbanne bracket is considered one of the most competitive, featuring three Top 15 teams, including Olympic medalist France.

Elsewhere, the Wuhan group features Mali, South Sudan, Brazil, Belgium, Czechia, and China, forming another deep field of contenders.

The San Juan, Puerto Rico tournament includes New Zealand, Puerto Rico, USA, Senegal, Italy, and Spain — with powerhouse USA the overwhelming favorite.

In Istanbul, Türkiye, the qualifiers will feature Hungary, Türkiye, Argentina, Australia, Canada, and Japan, completing the 24-team qualifying stage.

The Gilas Women aim to build on their recent momentum and experience to compete against higher-ranked teams on the global stage.

Qualifying for the World Cup would mark a historic first for the Philippine women’s national basketball program.