The poster of the NextGen EuroLeague has been defined, with the best 40 U18 teams

ByDavid Mitchell

The adidas NextGen EuroLeague 2026-27 has completed its entry list, with 40 U-18 programs from 15 countries set to compete for the junior continental title. The competition will be structured into six tournaments, including two Pre-Qualifiers and four Qualifiers, before the Finals.

Of the total teams, 26 will directly access the Qualifying Tournamentswhile the remaining 14 will begin their journey in the new Pre-Qualifying Tournaments. The diversity of participants is notable: 17 teams come from clubs in the Euroleague10 of clubs Euro Cupand the remaining 13 are other clubs and academies.

The season will start in Rijeka, Croatiafrom October 23 to 25, 2026, hosted by the Kvarner CEBA Academy. Split Basketball (Croatia), Bosna BH Telecom (Bosnia and Herzegovina), FMP Belgrade (Serbia), Tofas Bursa (Turkey), the Spanish Pablo Laso Academy and Zentro Basket Madrid, and a team from the adidas Select Program will compete alongside it. The winner will get a pass to the Belgrade Qualifying Tournament.

The second Pre-Qualifier will be held in Vienna, Austriafrom November 27 to 29, 2026, with Vienna Basketball as host. Participating teams will include Abu Dhabi Wildcats (United Arab Emirates), Cholet Basket (France), London Lions (Great Britain), Neptunas Klaipeda (Lithuania), Orange1 Bassano (Italy), Veolia Towers Hamburg (Germany) and another team from the adidas Select Program. The winner will advance to the Paris Qualifying Tournament.

The Qualifying Tournaments will begin in Germanyfrom January 7 to 9, 2027, with the FC Bayern Munich as headquarters. Subsequently, they will be held in Bologna (Italy) from January 21 to 23, in Paris (France) from February 26 to 28, and will end in Belgrade (Serbia) from April 2 to 4. These stages will define the direct finalists.

The champions of each Qualifying Tournament will secure their place in the adidas Finals NextGen EuroLeague 2027. These four teams will be joined by four other invitations (wild cards) to complete the field of eight participants who will fight for the final championship.

David Mitchell
David Mitchell

As a passionate sports journalist with over a decade of experience, I strive to uncover the heart and soul behind every game. Supported by a dedicated team of fellow enthusiasts and storytellers, I am committed to delivering insightful and engaging content that connects fans worldwide. Together, we celebrate the victories, challenges, and unifying spirit of sports through every article we craft.