The Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB) received 18 votes to Israel's five in a vote of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Central Board, giving it hosting rights to basketball's most prestigious tournament for women outside the Olympics. 

Spain is no stranger to hosting FIBA's flagship events, having staged the men's World Cup earlier this year, which, much like the women's event in 2018, was the inaugural tournament under the new name for men.

"We would like to thank both Spain and Israel for submitting outstanding bids and giving us every reason to believe they would host a first-class event and make it a great success for all concerned," said FIBA secretary general and International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Patrick Baumann.

Spain submitted their candidature for the 2018 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup having successfully hosted the men's tournament earlier this year ©FIBA



Spain's women are one of the strongest basketball teams in the world.

They won the EuroBasket in France last year and finished as the runners-up in the most recent World Championships, held in Turkey earlier this year.

According to the FEB, Spain's proposal to host the 2018 World Cup included plans to "adopt an innovative new competition system".

It is also hoped that the tournament, like the men's World Cup, will "promote the Championship and women's basketball, worldwide, over the years preceding the Championship".

It is believed that the tournament will be scheduled for September 1 until 9, 2018.

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