The International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) is excited to announce that the IWBF Men’s U23 World Championship, hosted by CBBC Brazil will take place in São Paulo, Brazil, from 12–20 June 2025. This prestigious event will bring together up to 12 of the best U23 wheelchair basketball teams from around the globe to compete for the world title.
The competition will be held at the Centro de Treinamento Paralímpico Brasileiro in São Paulo, an outstanding para-sport venue that will also serve as accommodation for the participating teams. This central hub will offer optimal facilities for both competition and team preparation, ensuring a seamless experience for players and support staff alike. The venue previously hosted the 2022 IWBF Americas Cup.
IWBF Secretary General Norbert Kucera expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming event:
“We are thrilled to bring the Men’s U23 World Championship to São Paulo in 2025. Brazil’s longstanding tradition of hosting major sporting events and the experience of CBBC in organizing para-sport competitions ensures that this tournament will be a great success. We look forward to an exciting competition that showcases the talent and dedication of the best young athletes in the sport.”
Mario Belo, President of CBBC Brazil, shared his excitement about hosting the event:
“We are proud to be considered eligible to host this prestigious IWBF event for the second time in the world’s wheelchair basketball history. We are confident that we will give the best hospitality to all participants in our training centre, in São Paulo. This event will be a great opportunity to motivate our young players with a disability to join the wonderful game of wheelchair basketball. Thank you to all IWBF members for this and to the Brazilian Paralympic Committee for supporting this event. We are looking forward to having all qualified teams with us.”
The IWBF Men’s U23 World Championship is one of the most anticipated events on the international wheelchair basketball calendar, offering a platform for the next generation of elite athletes to display their skills and represent their nations on the world stage.
The tournament will feature teams from all four IWBF zones, with qualification tournaments determining the final participants. The number of qualification spots was established based on the final standings from the 2021 U23 World Championship in Phuket, Thailand:
- 5 teams from Europe
- 3 teams from Asia Oceania
- 3 teams from the Americas (including a host spot for Brazil)
- 1 team from Africa
The path to qualification has already begun, with five teams from Europe securing their spots at the 2024 U23 European Championship, held in Madrid last June. These teams are Great Britain, Germany, Türkiye, Italy, and Israel.
The remaining places will be filled through upcoming zonal qualification events:
- Asia Oceania: Three teams will qualify from the 2024 U23 Asia Oceania Championship, set to take place in Bangkok this November.
- Americas: Two teams will qualify from the Americas, with the exact dates and location for the qualification tournament to be announced soon.
- Africa: One team will qualify from Africa, with details of the qualification tournament yet to be confirmed.
These tournaments provide a valuable opportunity for young athletes to compete at the highest level in their Zones and earn their place at the 2025 U23 World Championship in São Paulo.
Further details regarding the competition schedule and participating teams will be released closer to the event.
