The quarterfinals of the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup is almost set. And now, we’ll take a look at who the United States and Spain could face as the tournament heads toward the finish line.
The USA is on one side of the quarterfinal bracket. They will face Hungary tomorrow. Whoever wins that match will play against the winner of Spain vs. Italy or Australia. The Italians and the Opals are playing their qualifier game later today.
Assuming Australia wins their match against Italy, Spain will have their hands
full against an Opals team that is capable of winning a medal. Even if Spain makes the semifinals, a likely match against the USA will be a challenge due to the Americans’ depth. At least we’ll get to see Sonia Citron, Kiki Iriafen and Alicia Florez play in the same game. It’s just a shame that that match will be in the semifinal instead of the final round.
The other half of the quarterfinals bracket will be more competitive. France will play China in their quarterfinal round. Les Bleues is generally regarded as the team most likely to win the World Cup if the Americans don’t. They have eight WNBA players on their squad while China only has one, but still ranks fourth in the world.
Whoever wins France vs. China will play against the winner of Belgium vs. Germany in the last quarterfinal match. The Germans are hosting the tournament and will have the home crowd, but they lost to Spain earlier in the group stage. I think they’ll meet their match because of the Belgian Cats, who have three WNBA players and two NCAA Division I major conference players, including Mystics 2025 third-round draft pick/Kansas State forward Nastja Claessens. Finally, they have former long time Mystics forward Emma Meesseman and former Mystics General Manager and Head Coach Mike Thibault.
I think the USA plays Spain in the semifinals, while France and Belgium play in the other semifinal. While most will think that France will win, I think Belgium will hit their stride and make the finals, guaranteeing the Cats a medal in a worldwide tournament for the first time.
If the USA plays Belgium in the World Cup final, Team USA should win it comfortably, even if Belgium arguably has the best individual player on the court or the better head coach. The Americans’ depth is too much for the Cats, even if Kyara Linskens is on the Phoenix Mercury, Antonia Delaere is on the Minnesota Lynx or Julie Allemand is on the Toronto Tempo.
But let’s think about how big a USA vs. Belgium final is, (no pun intended on the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 back last summer). The Mystics’ cornerstones in Citron and Iriafen would be on the same court playing against two of the biggest figures of the Mystics’ past in Meesseman and Thibault. Julie Vanloo is also another past Mystics player who is one Belgium.
As a Mystics fan, I’m hoping for a USA vs. Belgium final with the Americans winning. How about you? Let us know in the comments below.
