Intercontinental Cup 2027/28

The FIBA Intercontinental Cup is an annual invitational tournament that determines the world’s best club team. Unlike the NBA Finals or EuroLeague Final Four, this competition excludes the champions of those two major leagues. Instead, it features second-tier or developmental league representatives from North America and Europe. The event serves as a global showcase for continental champions without any promotion or relegation system.

Founded in 1966 following a test match in 1965, the tournament has seen significant hiatuses. It was inactive from 1988 to 1995 and again from 1997 to 2012. In 2013, it was relaunched with a focus on EuroLeague and FIBA Americas League champions. However, a dispute between FIBA and Euroleague Basketball excluded the EuroLeague champion from 2017 onwards. The format expanded in 2023 to include six teams representing Europe, the Americas, Africa, Asia, Oceania, and North America.

The 2025 edition was held in Singapore, featuring Unicaja Málaga (Spain), Flamengo (Brazil), Illawarra Hawks (Australia), Utsunomiya Brex (Japan), Al Ahli Tripoli (Libya), and NBA G League United (USA). Unicaja Málaga won the 2025 final against NBA G League United. The current format involves two groups of three teams, with a round-robin stage followed by knockout matches for placement. Real Madrid holds the record for most titles with five victories. Other multiple winners include Pallacanestro Varese, Akron Goodyear Wingfoots, and Lenovo Tenerife.

The competition is distinct because it is less prestigious in terms of talent level and commercial value compared to the NBA Finals and EuroLeague Final Four. Despite this, it holds the official FIBA title of "World Club Champion." The tournament does not fit into a league pyramid but stands alone as a standalone invitational tournament. Unicaja Málaga are the defending champions, having won in 2024 and 2025. The event continues to evolve, with changes in participation and structure over the years.