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Spain will host the IWBF Women's Repechage, the tournament that will decide the last four countries qualified for the women's competition at the Ottawa 2026 IWBF World Championship, held in Ottawa, Canada. From 8 to 11 June, at the Palacio Multiusos de Guadalajara, eight teams from four continents are going all in to secure a place in the pinnacle tournament of wheelchair basketball.
This is the first time that IWBF has introduced the Repechage Tournament as a second chance for countries to pursue a place in the World Championship. The new qualification structure was previously implemented for Paris 2024 and now creates additional meaningful opportunities for teams to earn their place at the World Championships on the court, while also helping ensure the strongest and most representative field possible for the premier Championships.
For the first phase of the competition, the eight countries have been divided into two groups. In Group A are Colombia, Australia, Germany and Angola, while Group B features Argentina, France, Thailand and the hosts, Spain. In this stage, the teams face each other within each group in a single round-robin format.
As a result, the 1st-placed team in one group will face the 4th-placed team from the other group, while the 2nd-placed team will face the 3rd-placed team from the opposite group. The winners of these knockout matches qualify for the World Championship. The games will take place between 8 and 11 June, and the full schedule and competition statistics are available at this link.
The competition is hosted by the Spanish Federation of Sports for People with Physical Disabilities (FEDDF) and takes place at the Palacio Multiusos de Guadalajara, a venue located in the Spanish city of Guadalajara, in the autonomous community of Castilla-La Mancha, approximately 60 km from the capital, Madrid. The modern facilities of the Palacio Multiusos previously hosted the 2025 FEDDF Copa del Rey and now are the stage for a the Repechage. The matches will be broadcast live internationally on the IWBF YouTube Channel.
How they got there
Group A
Colombia
Colombia earned a place in the 2026 IWBF Women's Repechage after finishing fifth in the 2025 Americas Cup, behind the continent's powerhouses United States, Brazil, Canada and Argentina. The Colombian women are looking to break historical barriers by achieving an unprecedented qualification for the World Championship.
Australia
Australia were overcome by China and Japan at the 2025 IWBF Asia Oceania Championship and, with third place in the Zonal Tournament, secured the right to compete for a World Championship spot via the 2026 IWBF Women's Repechage. The Aussies, who have won three bronze medals in the past, aim to maintain their record of never having missed an edition of the World Championship.
Germany
Five times medalist in World Championships, and semifinalist in the previous edition, in 2022, Germany is always a contender in Women's Wheelchair Basketball. With such a track record, the Germans can be considered one of the favourites to secure one of the places in dispute in the 2026 IWBF Women's Repechage. They arrive at the tournament after finishing fourth in the 2025 European Championship.
Angola
Another team seeking to qualify for the World Championship for the very first time. The Angolan women finished third in the 2026 Africa Championship, but inherited a spot in the Repechage Tournament after the runners-up, South Africa, withdrew from competition. It will be the first time Angola compete outside of a Zonal competition.
Group B
Argentina
At the 2025 Americas Cup, Argentina ended the competition in fourth place, behind the United States, Brazil and Canada. Their performance at the Zonal guaranteed them a place in the 2026 IWBF Women's Repechage. The Argentinians have only competed in the World Championship once, in 2018, and are seeking to establish themselves on the grand stage of Wheelchair Basketball.
France
France missed the World Championship last edition, in 2022, and now tries to regain a place among the main teams in the world. The French women finished the last European Championship in fifth place, and the Repechage spot came after Spain, bronze medalist, were confirmed as tournament hosts. This opened up an extra spot for a European team to enter the competition.
Thailand
Behind China, Japan and Australia in the 2025 IWBF Asia Oceania Championship, Thailand finished the continental competition in fourth place, taking one of the region's two places for the Repechage Tournament. The Thai team competed in the World Championship for the first time in 2022 and, after tasting the main stage once, they don't want to be left out of the party again.
Spain
As host nation, Spain arrives at the tournament having earned their place at the 2026 IWBF Women's Repechage thanks to the bronze medal won at the European Championship last year, beating the always strong German team in the battle for the podium. Furthermore, the Spanish women will count on the support of the local crowd to push them towards the coveted qualification for the World Championship.
Competition Schedule
Monday 8 June 2026
10:00 – Angola vs Germany
12:45 – Spain vs Thailand
15:00 – Colombia vs Australia
17:15 – Argentina vs France
Tuesday 9 June 2026
10:00 – Australia vs Angola
12:15 – Argentina vs Spain
14:30 – Germany vs Colombia
16:45 – France vs Thailand
Wednesday 10 June 2026
10:00 – Germany vs Australia
12:15 – Spain vs France
14:30 – Thailand vs Argentina
16:45 – Colombia vs Angola
Thursday 11 June 2026
09:00 – Crossover 1
11:30 – Crossover 2
14:00 – Crossover 3
16:30 – Crossover 4
*All times are in local time (CEST)
