NBA star Victor Wembanyama to return for France in World Cup qualifiers

French basketball sensation Victor Wembanyama is set to return to the national team for the first time since the 2024 Olympic Games. The San Antonio Spurs star is included in the squad for the upcoming 2027 FIBA World Cup qualifiers, with matches scheduled for late August.

Wembanyama's return is significant as he missed the EuroBasket 2025 qualifiers due to a venous thrombosis in his right shoulder, which prematurely ended his 2024-2025 NBA season. His presence is seen as crucial for the French team's chemistry and performance.

Frédéric Fauthoux, the head coach of the French national team, emphasized Wembanyama's importance. "Victor is the undisputed leader of this generation," Fauthoux stated in a press release. "It is necessary that his presence becomes concrete to create automatisms with the others, in the game and in life around basketball. It's that simple."

This will be Fauthoux's first time coaching Wembanyama, having taken over the role after the 2024 Olympics. Wembanyama, who recently added the NBA Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year awards to his accolades, previously led France to a silver medal at the Olympics, where he was the top scorer in the final against the USA.

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Victor is the undisputed leader of this generation. It is necessary that his presence becomes concrete to create automatisms with the others, in the game and in life around basketball. It's that simple.