Doha, August 28 (QNA) – The Local Organizing Committee for the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027 officially opened Al Janoub Arena in its new configuration this evening before a capacity crowd of 8,200 spectators, following its conversion from a football stadium into a basketball arena. It will be one of four venues hosting matches during the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027.

The arena’s opening coincided with celebrations marking one year to go until the tournament. To mark the occasion, it hosted the game between Qatar and China in the Asian Qualifiers for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027, with a vibrant capacity crowd filling the stands for the first official game held at the venue in its new configuration.

The match was attended by HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, HE Secretary-General of the Qatar Olympic Committee Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain, HE President of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Sheikh Saud Ali Al-Thani, HE Secretary-General of FIBA Andreas Zagklis, and Director General of the Organizing Committee for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Dr. Ahmed Abdullah Al Buainain.

Qatar lost 57-83 to China in a game that marked the beginning of Al Annabi’s campaign in the second round of the qualifiers, which the team is contesting as part of its preparations for the World Cup despite having already secured its place in the tournament as the host nation.

The arena was inaugurated on Aug. 27, 2026, exactly one year before the start of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027, which will take place from Aug. 27 to Sep. 12, 2027.

The tournament will feature 32 national teams competing in 92 games across four venues: Lusail Arena, Al Janoub Arena, Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena and Al Duhail Arena.

The evening featured a range of entertainment and interactive activities for spectators, adding to the atmosphere surrounding the opening of Al Janoub Arena and the Qatar-China game and enhancing fan engagement inside the venue. The accompanying activities offered spectators an integrated experience combining sporting competition with entertainment, providing an early glimpse of the fan experience the Organizing Committee aims to deliver during the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027.

The tournament will be staged at Lusail Arena, Al Janoub Arena, Al Attiyah Arena and Al Duhail Arena under a compact hosting model that brings all 32 teams together in a single city and reduces the need for long-distance travel between venues.

The close proximity of the venues will provide a more convenient experience for teams and spectators, giving players more time to recover and prepare for games while offering fans greater flexibility to attend more matches and enjoy the tournament atmosphere throughout the event.

Qatar will draw on its extensive experience in hosting major sporting events and its established and proven sports infrastructure, which has previously hosted numerous international competitions. The conversion of Al Janoub Stadium into a basketball arena stands out as a key example of repurposing existing facilities and leveraging their legacy to host new global sporting events. (QNA)

The one-year-to-go milestone for the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027 also coincided with the release of the tournament’s first ticket packages through its official website, marking another step in preparations for the global event next year.

The available options include the Lusail Arena Package, providing access to all 32 games hosted at the venue; the Final Phase Package, covering the 12 games from the quarterfinals through the final; and the Qatar Team Fan Package, which includes Qatar’s five group-stage games, comprising three games in the first round and two in the second round.