USA Basketball has announced that The Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia, will host a USA FIBA Men’s World Cup Qualifying game against Nicaragua on December 1. The arena is home to the WNBA Atlanta Dream and NBA G League College Park Skyhawks.
“USA Basketball is excited to begin the journey to the 2027 FIBA Men’s World Cup at The Gateway Arena,” said Jim Tooley, USA Basketball CEO. “World Cup Qualifying is a great opportunity for basketball fans and their families to support the USA Men’s National Team program. We are looking forward to playing in front of the College Park crowd as we host Nicaragua for the first time.”
The game will be the second of a two-game stretch with USA Basketball first heading to Nicaragua on November 28. The USA Men, who are in Group A, will first host a training camp in Miami prior to that game.
“As the host destination for the World Cup Qualifier, the ATL Airport District is thrilled to welcome international players and fans to Atlanta’s Southside,” said Mercedes Miller, president of the ATL Airport District Convention and Visitors Bureau. “From the on-court action to exploring everything the District has to offer, we’re confident attendees will have the ultimate experience discovering our communities.”
From November 2025 to March 2027, six World Cup Qualifying windows will feature 420 total games, with 80 national teams competing for one of 32 berths to the 2027 FIBA Men’s World Cup, which will be held in Doha, Qatar.
In the FIBA Americas zone that includes the United States, 16 teams will play across six windows with seven advancing to the World Cup.
NBA G League players are expected to comprise the rosters for Team USA during FIBA World Cup Qualifying games. The United States has won two of the last four FIBA World Cups (2010, 2014).
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