San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama is set to return to lead the French national basketball team in a significant international tournament. The Fédération Internationale de Basketball (FIBA) has confirmed that Wembanyama has been included in France’s 15-man roster for the upcoming World Cup qualifying window scheduled for August 2027. During this window, France will face Slovenia and Sweden, two formidable opponents in their quest to secure a spot in the World Cup.
This marks Wembanyama’s first opportunity to represent his country since the thrilling 2024 Paris Olympics, where he played a crucial role in nearly leading France to victory against the United States in the gold medal match. Wembanyama was the standout player in that game, finishing as the leading scorer and averaging an impressive 15.8 points and 9.7 rebounds throughout the tournament. At just 20 years old and with only one year of professional NBA experience, his performance was nothing short of remarkable.
Since that time, a great deal has changed for Wembanyama. He recently signed a lucrative five-year, $252 million max contract extension with the Spurs on July 10, following an impressive season that saw him lead San Antonio on a surprise journey to the NBA Finals.
Frederic Fauthoux, who has been at the helm of the French national team since September 2024, will coach Wembanyama and the rest of the squad during this tournament. Fauthoux expressed his excitement about coaching the nation’s best player for the first time, stating, “It’s extremely important for the future of the project we want to carry out. Victor is the undisputed leader of this generation. His presence needs to become a tangible presence to create automatic plays with the others, both on the court and in their lives outside of basketball.”
Wembanyama unfortunately missed the last opportunity to represent France on the world stage during the FIBA EuroBasket tournament in 2025, as he was recovering from a blood clot in his right shoulder that curtailed his performance in his second NBA season.
Standing at an impressive 7 feet 4 inches, Wembanyama is not only a key player for France but also the reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year. He will reunite with fellow NBA veterans Rudy Gobert and Evan Fournier, both of whom are also making their return to the national team.
Currently, France leads Group L with a strong 5-1 record as they head into the second round of World Cup qualifying. With the talent of players like Wembanyama, they are poised to be a serious contender for the 2027 World Cup in Qatar.
