New Delhi [India], May 14 (ANI): The Indian men’s basketball team has been placed in Group D of the FIBA World Cup 2027 Qualifiers, alongside Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and hosts Qatar. The tournament aims to secure a spot in the FIBA World Cup 2027, according to Olympics.com.
The draw for the FIBA World Cup 2027 Qualifiers was held on Tuesday at Alhazm in Doha, which will also host the main basketball tournament from August 27 to September 12, 2027. It will mark the first time the Men’s Basketball World Cup is held in the Arab world and the third consecutive edition staged in Asia.
A total of 80 national teams from the four FIBA regions—Africa (16 teams), the Americas (16 teams), Asia and Oceania (16 teams), and Europe (32 teams)—will participate in the World Cup 2027 Qualifiers.
In the Asia and Oceania region, Group A includes Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, and Guam. Group B consists of Japan, the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, and Chinese Taipei. Group C features Iran, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq. Group D comprises Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, India, and Qatar.
India has yet to qualify for the World Cup in the previous 19 editions. The team hopes to make history during the six-window qualification cycle that begins on November 24, 2025, and continues through early 2027.
The FIBA World Cup 2027 Qualifiers windows are scheduled as follows: November 24 to December 2, 2025; February 23 to March 3, 2026; June 29 to July 7, 2026; August 24 to September 1, 2026; November 23 to December 1, 2026; and February 22 to March 2, 2027.
Qatar, as the host nation, will automatically advance to the second round and ultimately to the FIBA World Cup. This leaves India, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia to compete for the two remaining spots in the next stage.
Lebanon, ranked 29th globally, is the top-ranked team in Group D, followed by Saudi Arabia at 65th, India at 76th, and Qatar at 87th. Matches will be conducted on a home-and-away basis over six windows.
World No. 3 Germany, the reigning champion, secured their first-ever World Cup title in 2023. The FIBA 2027 World Cup will feature 32 nations and serve as a qualifying event for the LA 2028 Olympics. (ANI)
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