France will host the 2031 men's Basketball World Cup after being awarded the tournament on Wednesday, with Japan confirmed as the venue for the 2030 women's World Championships.
"Japan and France are both elite organisers of global-scale events, having hosted the two most recent summer Olympic Games, in 2020 and 2024 respectively," said a statement from FIBA, world basketball's governing body.
The French cities of Lyon, Lille and Paris will stage games during the tournament, which is scheduled to run from 29 August to 14 September.
FIBA said the 2030 women's tournament will be held from 26 November to 8 December in the Japanese capital, Tokyo.
"Japan and France are two basketball-loving nations, two destinations extremely popular with our fans, players and partners," said FIBA secretary general Andreas Zagklis.
"But what makes us more excited for both 2030 and 2031 is that truly rare quality that Japan and France possess, of adding their own unique touch of excellence and local flavour to make the events truly unforgettable."
Japan hosted the 2006 men's World Championship and co-hosted the 2023 edition. France will be staging the tournament for the first time.
French basketball giant Wembanyama buys stake in boyhood club
Wembanyama in running for MVP
Barring injuries, Victor Wembanyama will likely be at the epicentre of the France squad.
The 22-year-old was on Monday named the NBA Defender of the Year, as the San Antonio Spurs reached the play-offs for the first time since the 2018-19 season.
He was also shortlisted for the NBA Most Valuable Player award, becoming the first Frenchman to compete for one of the sport's biggest honours. Also shortlisted are reigning champion Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokić, who claimed the award in 2021, 2022 and 2024.
Past winners across the prize's 70-year history include Michael Jordan, LeBron James and Larry Bird, while Kareem Abdul-Jabbar holds the record with six titles between 1971 and 1980.
Shoulder injury rules out French basketball star Wemby for rest of the season
The defender of the year award and the nomination for MVP of the season vindicate the hype around Wembanyama's move in 2023 to the Texas-based Spurs from the French division one outfit Metropolitans 92.
He was described as a generational talent and one of the sport's most dazzling prospects since James.
Wembanyama, at 2 metres 21 centimetres tall, boasts the height of a centre (defender) as well as the shooting and silky ball-handling skills of a guard (attacker).
