FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Qualifiers draw reveals exciting ‘Road to Qatar'
Tribune News Network
Doha
With attendance of His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee and Chairman of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027 Local Organizing Committee, the draw ceremony for the event's qualifiers was held on Tuesday at Al Hazm Mall in the Qatari capital, Doha, marking the official start of the city's journey toward hosting the tournament — the first-ever to be staged in the Middle East.
The draw ceremony was attended by H.E. Sheikh Saud bin Ali Al Thani, President of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA); Mohammed Saad Al Meghaiseeb, President of the Qatar Basketball Federation and Director General of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027 Local Organizing Committee; and Andreas Zagklis, Secretary-General of FIBA, alongside a number of distinguished guests and dignitaries.
Also present were FIBA Global Ambassador, three-time Olympic champion, and NBA legend Carmelo Anthony, Team Qatar's Olympic champion Mutaz Essa Barshim; Yasseen Ismail, a legend of Qatari and Gulf basketball; and a 3x3 basketball world champion, along with representatives from the national teams participating in the qualifiers.
As host nation, Qatar is already assured of a place in the 32-team competition. The remaining slots will be contested over six qualifying windows, scheduled to take place between November 2025 and March 2027. The windows, each lasting nine days, will offer a thrilling mix of home-and-away games across the globe, with Africa adopting a centralized tournament format for their qualifiers.
The 16 national teams participating in the Asian Qualifiers for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 were divided into four groups. The draw placed host nation Qatar in Group D, alongside Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and India. Group A features Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, and Guam. Group B includes Japan, China, South Korea, and Chinese Taipei. Group C consists of Iran, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq.
The top three teams from each group will advance to the Second Round, where they will be divided into two new groups. The top three teams in each of those groups, along with the best fourth-placed team across both groups, will qualify for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 — in addition to Qatar, which qualifies automatically as the host nation.
The African Qualifiers will also include 16 teams divided into four groups. Group A features Cameroon, South Sudan, Libya, and Cape Verde. Group B includes Senegal, DR Congo, Madagascar, and Cote d'Ivoire. Group C is made up of Nigeria, Rwanda, Guinea, and Tunisia, while Group D consists of Mali, Angola, Uganda, and Egypt.
The top three teams from each group will move on to the Second Round. Those advancing teams will be divided into two new groups, from which the top two teams in each group — along with the best third-placed team — will qualify for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027.
In the Americas, the 16 teams have also been drawn into four groups. Group A includes the United States, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and one team that will advance from the final round of pre-qualifiers. Group B consists of Puerto Rico, Canada, the Bahamas, and one qualifier. Group C features Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, and a qualifying team. Group D includes Argentina, Uruguay, Panama, and one additional qualifier.
The top three teams from each group will advance to the Second Round. From there, the three best teams in each group — plus the best fourth-placed team — will earn a spot at the World Cup.
Europe's 32 national teams were drawn into eight groups. Group A includes Georgia, Spain, and two teams from the final round of the pre-qualifiers. Group B features Greece, Montenegro, Portugal, and one qualifier. Group C is made up of Serbia, Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and a qualifier.
Group D includes Great Britain, Italy, Iceland, and Lithuania. Group E has Germany, Cyprus, and one qualifier. Group F includes Latvia, Poland, and two qualifiers. Group G features France, Belgium, Finland, and one qualifier. Group H consists of Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Sweden, and Estonia.
The top three teams from each group will advance to the Second Round, where they will be re-grouped into four new groups. The top three teams in each of those groups will qualify for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027.
The official qualification windows are as follows:
24 November – 2 December 2025
23 February – 3 March 2026
29 June – 7 July 2026
24 August – 1 September 2026
23 November – 1 December 2026
22 February – 2 March 2027
Each participating nation will play two games per window, making every match a crucial step on the road to Qatar 2027. The format promises intense action and fierce rivalries as teams compete not only for victory but for national pride and a coveted place at the world's premier basketball event.
A total of 80 national teams will take part in the draw, distributed across FIBA's four continental zones: 32 from Europe, 16 from Africa, 16 from the Americas, and 16 from Asia including Oceania. The final allocation of World Cup berths will see Europe claim 12 spots, the Americas 7, Africa 5, and Asia & Oceania 7 (excluding the host, Qatar).
Speaking at the draw, Mohammed Saad Al Meghaiseeb, President of the Qatar Basketball Federation and Director General of the Local Organizing Committee for the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027, said: 'It is a great honour to welcome you all to Doha, and to the official draw for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Qualifiers. Today marks the beginning of an exciting journey for 80 national teams from around the world. For us in Qatar, it is a proud moment to be the starting point of this global qualification campaign.'
'For the first time in recent history all the games will be played in one city and this will give the opportunity to the participants to enjoy every game, every moment. The fans which will travel to Doha, will live basketball for 17 days, an unforgettable experience for everyone who loves our game. The 2027 edition of the FIBA Basketball World Cup will be more than just a tournament; it will be a celebration of excellence, passion, shared values—competition, respect, and teamwork.' he added.
FIBA Basketball World
Cup Qatar 2027
The FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027 will take place from August 27 to September 12, 2027.
Basketball fans will travel to Qatar from around the world to experience the first tournament in the history of the sport to take place in one city. Residents and visiting fans will be presented with the opportunity to attend more than one match per day, minimizing their travel.
Thirty-two teams will participate in the tournament and games will be played in four venues. The final match will be played at the Lusail Arena. The National team of Qatar will participate at the World Cup for the second time in its history, after competing in 2006 in Japan.
Qatar was awarded the honor of hosting the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 during the FIBA Central Board meeting held in the Philippines capital, Manila on April 28, 2023.
The handover ceremony took place in Manila on September 10, 2023 during the closing ceremony of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 hosted by the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia.
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