The Brief
In June, the FIBA U19 World Cup became the first international basketball tournament to be powered by AI. Here’s what they set out to achieve as the tournament tipped off in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The Challenge
FIBA sought to overcome key challenges around the complexity of modern basketball analysis and the evolving expectations of global audiences:
For coaches and teams: They needed a solution that could make sense of increasingly complex game data, streamline scouting and performance reviews, and provide meaningful insights in real-time.
For fans: There was a demand for more engaging, informative viewing experiences that go beyond traditional stats and static broadcasts.
For FIBA: They wanted to demonstrate leadership in sport tech by embedding AI, automation, and innovation directly into the competition infrastructure.
The Solution
We deployed GeniusIQ, our AI-powered sports intelligence platform, across all facets of the tournament—on and off the court.
Coaching & Scouting Innovation
Every team in the tournament received democratised access to our next-generation Performance Studio coaching tool. Enabling them to tap into previously impossible to track insights like player speed, ball movement, spacing efficiency, defensive rotations, and effort zones.
We also deployed on the ground support in the shape of our basketball data experts to assist teams with unearthing new insights.
Broadcast Augmentation
Using real-time tracking data, we transformed live broadcasts with augmented overlays, providing:
- Player nameplates
- Shot probability
- Shot type and distance
- Defender proximity
- Max ball height
These insights were embedded in the live stream and shared with over 3 million FIBA YouTube subscribers, significantly enhancing fan engagement.
The Result
The integration of GeniusIQ technology had a tangible impact on both coaching strategy and audience experience:
For Coaches
Feedback from international coaches was overwhelmingly positive. Coaches like Julien Vonovier (Switzerland U19) and Miki Fuentes (Basquet Girona) praised the system for its depth, usability, and potential to change the way basketball is coached.
Coaches saw immediate applications in player selection, in-game strategy, and opponent analysis, describing the platform as “the most complete” tool currently available.
For Fans & FIBA
Augmented broadcasts were a hit, with ¾ of viewers voting in favor of continuing on-screen stat overlays.
Fans reported a more immersive, insightful viewing experience that brought them closer to the action—and to the future of the game.
For the Sport
GeniusIQ not only supported the tournament’s operations but positioned FIBA as a tech-forward leader in global basketball, showcasing how AI and computer vision can meaningfully elevate every layer of the game.
