The International Basketball Federation -FIBA- announced that El Salvador will host the FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup in its 2026 and 2027 editions, a decision that places the country within the continental calendar of the discipline. The competition, organized by the Federación Salvadoreña de Baloncesto, will take place from November 5 to 8, 2026, bringing together the top men’s and women’s national teams from across the Americas. FIBA 3×3 Managing Director Alex Sanchez highlighted the institutional scope of the agreement, stating: “We are pleased to bring the FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup to El Salvador for the 2026 and 2027 editions. Hosting the competition in consecutive years provides continuity for the continental calendar.”
The designation of El Salvador comes in a context in which the tournament has generated significant organizational, economic, and tourism impact in previous host cities. Locations such as San Juan, León, and Miami have used the event as a platform for international positioning, with direct effects on local economic activity, global media visibility, and the institutional development of 3×3 basketball. FIBA Americas Executive Director Carlos Alves emphasized the importance of such designations, noting that they “strengthen national federations, provide more opportunities for athletes, and bring basketball closer to fans.”
El Salvador enters the continental calendar
Hosting two consecutive editions of the FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup, along with the FIBA Women’s AmeriCup 2027, positions El Salvador as one of the operational hubs of continental basketball in the coming years. FIBA Central Board member and President of the National Institute of Sports of El Salvador Yamil Bukele underlined the significance of the appointment, stating: “It is a tremendous honor for our country to welcome the best teams in the Americas, including Olympians and World Cup medalists. This event reflects our commitment to the development of basketball and provides an opportunity to showcase El Salvador to the world.”
The FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup brings together men’s and women’s national teams in a format that alternates games on the same court, a structure that has been part of the discipline’s competitive model since its inclusion in the Olympic programme at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. The tournament has established itself as one of the main continental competitions within the FIBA calendar, with regular participation from federations across North America, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.
Puerto Rico: millions in economic impact
The edition held in San Juan, Puerto Rico, demonstrated the tournament’s direct economic impact on the host city. Local authorities estimated that the event generated approximately 3.5 million dollars in economic activity and more than 2,000 hotel room nights, as part of a broader strategy to develop sports tourism. Puerto Rico Tourism Company Executive Director Willianette Robles described such competitions as a key growth driver, noting that sport has become one of the main tools for attracting international visitors.
Beyond the immediate financial impact, the tournament also helped position Puerto Rico within the international sports events calendar, delivering global media exposure and strengthening its ability to attract future competitions. Local authorities linked the organization of these events to a broader institutional strategy aimed at reinforcing the country’s role as a host destination for international sporting events and consolidating its presence within the continental sports ecosystem.
From Miami to León: cities expanding the tournament’s reach
The tournament’s expansion began with its inaugural edition in Miami, home to the regional headquarters of FIBA Americas, which marked the competition’s launch as a continental platform. FIBA Americas Executive Director Carlos Alves highlighted the strategic value of the host city, stating that the event would “accelerate the growth of 3×3 basketball across the region,” describing Miami as an urban, international, and multicultural environment aligned with the discipline’s identity.
The selection of León, in Mexico, as host of the 2025 edition further expanded the tournament’s geographic footprint across the continent. León Sports Commission Director Isaac Noe Piña Valdivia noted that hosting the event would enhance the city’s international projection and sporting profile, while FIBA 3×3 Managing Director Alex Sanchez explained that the decision reflected the country’s proven organizational experience, having hosted multiple international 3×3 competitions since 2015.
The inclusion of El Salvador as host in 2026 and 2027 continues this regional expansion pathway, which has already included strategic cities such as Miami, San Juan, and León, consolidating a network of host locations that combine economic impact, international visibility, and institutional development of 3×3 basketball across the Americas.
