Victor Wembanyama returns to French national team for FIBA qualifiers

Victor Wembanyama, the 22‑year‑old French NBA star, will rejoin the France men’s basketball squad for the upcoming FIBA World Cup 2027 qualification window (24 August – 1 September). His last appearance for France was the 2024 Olympic final in Paris, a loss to the United States, and he has missed the EuroBasket tournament in the summer of 2025 while focusing on his NBA career.

Wembanyama is slated to play in the qualifiers against Slovenia on 27 August and Sweden on 30 August, with two likely friendly matches against Serbia on 20 and 23 August. Speaking to the press during the renovation of a basketball court in Nanterre, he said he “misses FIBA basketball more than the NBA” and enjoys being back among familiar people and the environment where he grew up.

He emphasized that returning to France feels “very good” and that the support network in Nanterre and across France is important to him as he balances his NBA commitments with national team duties.