It’s that time of the year again where the FISU World University Cup 3×3 Basketball is back on show.
The tournament first began in 2010. Since 2015, it has been held in Xiamen, China, for six consecutive years. Turkey and Qatar hosted the tournament in 2022 and 2023 respectively, before it returned to the iconic Huaqiao University in 2024.
Huaqiao are no strangers to FISU 3×3 basketball success, having been crowned champions in 2018 and finishing third the following year. Star player Zheng Yi, who has competed in five FISU University World Cups, credits his time with FISU as one of the key reasons he was selected for China’s national 3×3 team.
Zheng Yi said “My participation to the FISU University World cups helped lay the foundation for my eventual selection to the national team. FISU events also taught me not to focus too much on outcomes, but to trust the process more.”
In a couple of days, from Friday, 14 November to Sunday, 16 November 2025, the FISU University World Cup 3×3 Basketball World Cup takes place in the great land of samba — Brasilia, Brazil. Twenty-four teams — 12 men’s and 12 women’s — will compete in this high-tempo version of basketball that once carried the marketing tagline “From the streets to the Olympics.”
In 2020 in Tokyo, 3×3 Basketball made its Olympic debut, and since then, this genre of the game has become a global social media sensation, constantly generating amazing highlights and viral content.
Home teams Paulista University (men and women) will fancy their chances, especially since their men’s team lifted the FISU 3×3 World Cup titles in 2019 and 2022.
Testimonies from former participants
For many student-athletes, representing their university on the world stage is nothing short of magical. After all, how many people can truly say they’ve competed in a World Cup?
2023 FISU University World Cup Winner and 2022 silver medallist, Alejandra Rovira Trevino, who represented ITESM Monterrey from Mexico said, “Each FISU tournament was more than competition. It was also about friendships, learning cultures and growth. Every game and every moment that we experienced made this journey so unforgettable. I grew as a player and a person – on and off the court.”
Alejandra’s feelings were also shared by 2024 silver medallist, Teresa Donato from Carleton University, Canada. Teresa commented and said, “Competing in Argentina (Qualifiers) and China was truly an unforgettable experience. Being able to represent my University and country on a global stage was something that I will carry with me forever. This tournament helped me grow as a student-athlete and really developed my leadership and love for the game.”
The 3×3 game is very different to the traditional five on five format. The transition speed after scoring or rebounding happens in a blink of an eye.
Three time FISU University World Cup 3×3 basketball representative and 2022 silver medallist, Ciaron Fitz-Gerald, who represented Macquarie University, Australia, shared his thoughts and said, “the pace, athleticism, and basketball IQ required to succeed in 3×3 is another level entirely. Visually and strategically, 3×3 is a completely different game to 5 on 5. It is faster, more physical, and demanding a unique style of player. The FISU University World Cup 3×3 brings the best talent from around the world into one arena, and the quality of competition is second to none.”
The 2025 competition will also continue to have a two-point shoot-out contest where individual players can test their long-range shooting skills.
Find out more about the event on the Brasilia 2025 FISU University World Cup 3×3 Basketball official website and follow the games live from 14-16 November on FISU.tv
Written by Ben Ibrahim
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