By Staff Reporter
Doha: Qatar’s national basketball team is set for a decisive phase in its campaign for a place at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 after the Executive Office of the Asian Basketball Confederation confirmed revised dates and venues for postponed fixtures and announced the full schedule for the third and final window of the first stage of the Asian qualifiers.
The updated calendar follows the official postponement of March matches by International Basketball Federation due to regional circumstances at the time, with the governing body prioritising the safety of players, technical staff and participating delegations.
Under the revised schedule, Qatar will face a demanding run of three key fixtures in quick succession as they seek to secure qualification for the second round of continental competition.
Qatar will begin the decisive stretch with a Gulf showdown against Saudi Arabia on Monday, June 29, at 7pm at Al Gharafa Sports Hall in Doha. The encounter, originally scheduled during the second qualification window, is expected to carry significant importance in shaping the standings in a tightly contested Group D.
Following the home clash, Qatar will travel to India to take on the Indian national team in Ahmedabad on Thursday, July 2, before wrapping up the first-round campaign with another difficult test against Saudi Arabia in Jeddah on Sunday, July 5.
Qatar enters the final phase of the opening stage on the back of encouraging performances that have underlined the team’s growing competitiveness on the continental stage.
The national team narrowly missed out on victory in its opening match, suffering a dramatic 74-75 defeat to Lebanon in Doha after a closely fought contest decided by a single point. Qatar, however, responded strongly by registering an impressive 86-83 win over Lebanon away from home, securing a notable result in one of the toughest venues in Asian basketball.
The momentum continued with a commanding 99-73 victory over India in Doha, a performance that further strengthened Qatar’s position in the group standings.
Group D has emerged as one of the most competitive sections in the Asian qualifiers, with Lebanon, Qatar and Saudi Arabia locked at the summit on five points each, while India remains in fourth place on three points.
The ongoing Asian and Oceania qualifying campaign features 16 teams divided into four groups. Group A includes Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines and Guam, while Group B comprises Japan, China, South Korea and Chinese Taipei. Group C features Iran, Jordan, Syria and Iraq, with Qatar competing alongside Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and India in Group D.
According to the qualification format, the top three teams from each group will advance to the second round, where they will be redistributed into two new groups. From there, the top three teams from each section, along with the best fourth-placed side overall, will earn qualification to the World Cup.
The qualification journey spans six competitive windows across more than 18 months, running from November 2025 until March 2027, ahead of the historic edition of the FIBA Basketball World Cup to be hosted by Qatar for the first time from August 27 to September 12, 2027.
