The Australian Opals’ pathway at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 is now locked in, with the full tournament schedule confirming a fast-paced group phase to open the competition in Berlin.
Australia will begin its campaign across the opening three gamedays from September 4–7, with all group matches played within a condensed window before the tournament shifts into knockout mode.
Drawn into Group C alongside Puerto Rico, Türkiye and Belgium, the Opals will face each opponent once, with the top three teams progressing beyond the group phase, adding immediate importance to every result.
| Opals Group C Schedule | ||
| Date | Opponent | Time (Local) |
| 4 September | Puerto Rico | TBC |
| 6 September | Türkiye | TBC |
| 7 September | Belgium | TBC |
Among the standout fixtures of the group stage, Australia’s clash with Belgium has already been highlighted by FIBA as a must-watch matchup, bringing together two of the world’s leading programs in what shapes as a defining early test.
FIBA World Ranking: Belgium (5), Australia (3)
This could be an all-important group decider and pitches the FIBA Women's EuroBasket champions against the FIBA Women's Asia Cup winners.
It's also their first meeting on the global stage since that memorable bronze medal game between the teams at Paris 2024. And, that was an absolute epic.
With both nations expected to contend deep into the tournament, the meeting looms as one of the marquee games of the opening round.
