Tamara Al Sayed
In a dazzling ceremony held at the luxurious Al Hazm Mall in Doha, the road to the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027 officially began as 80 nations discovered their qualification routes. The event, attended by international basketball dignitaries, marked a significant milestone on the way to the first-ever Basketball World Cup hosted in the Middle East. The draw, presided over by Qatar Olympic Committee President and Chairman of the FIBA World Cup 2027 Local Organizing Committee H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, determined the groupings for the qualifiers across four global zones: Asia & Oceania, Africa, the Americas, and Europe.
FIBA President Sheikh Saud Ali Al Thani, FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis, and Qatar Basketball Federation Director General Mohammed Saad Al Meghaiseeb were among the high-profile attendees and over 60 national federation representatives. Adding star power to the evening were basketball legend and FIBA Global Ambassador Carmelo Anthony, Qatari high jump world champion Mutaz Barshim, British distance running icon Mo Farah, and Qatari basketball great Yassin Mousa. The prestigious Naismith Trophy was ceremoniously presented on stage by former Germany captain and 2002 World Cup MVP Dirk Nowitzki.
The 2027 edition of the tournament, set for August 27 to September 12, will be groundbreaking, featuring all 32 qualified teams competing in a single host city—Doha. This is a first in the tournament’s history and aims to create an immersive basketball festival for players and fans alike. The qualification campaign spans six windows from November 2025 to March 2027, featuring 420 games as nations vie for their spot on the world stage. FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis emphasized the significance of the qualifiers: “The World Cup is not just a three-week event. It’s a two-year journey. Every three months, teams will play home and away, and all roads lead to Doha.”
Although automatically qualified as hosts, Qatar will participate in the qualifiers for competitive preparation. They were drawn in Group D of the Asia & Oceania zone, alongside Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and India. QBF President Mohammed Saad Al Meghaiseeb hailed the moment as a major step in Qatar’s sporting journey: “Basketball’s story in Qatar began in 1973. Now, we’re preparing to host the most compact and connected World Cup in history—where every fan, player, and official can share each moment in one city.”
The groups for the qualifiers were drawn as follows:
In Asia and Oceania, Group A consists of Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, and Guam.
Group B features Japan, China, South Korea, and Chinese Taipei.
Group C includes Iran, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq.
Group D has Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, India, and Qatar.
In Africa, Group A includes Cameroon, South Sudan, Libya, and Cape Verde.
Group B has Senegal, DR Congo, Madagascar, and Ivory Coast.
Group C includes Nigeria, Rwanda, Guinea, and Tunisia.
Group D consists of Mali, Angola, Uganda, and Egypt.
In the Americas, Group A features the USA, Dominican Republic, PQ-N Winner, and Nicaragua.
Group B has Puerto Rico, Canada, the Bahamas, and PQ-N in Second Place.
Group C includes Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, and the PQ-S Winner.
Group D consists of Argentina, Uruguay, Panama, and PQ-S, Second Place.
In Europe, Group A features SR-D 2nd Place, Georgia, SR-A Winner, and Spain.
Group B consists of Greece, Montenegro, Portugal, and the SR-B Winner.
Group C includes Serbia, Turkey, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and SR-A 2nd Place.
Group D has Great Britain, Italy, Iceland, and Lithuania.
Group E features the SR-D Winner, Germany, and Cyprus.
Group F includes Latvia, Poland, SR-C 2nd Place, and SR-C Winner.
Group G has SR-B 2nd Place, France, Belgium, and Finland.
Group H consists of Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Sweden, and Estonia.
The first qualification window kicks off in November 2025. Each team will play home and away matches during the three initial windows (November 2025, February 2026, and July 2026), with additional stages following before the final 32 are confirmed for Doha 2027. With the glittering Naismith Trophy on display and global icons in attendance, the stage is now set for an unforgettable journey to basketball’s biggest stage. One that culminates in a historic celebration of the game in the heart of the Middle East.