MIAMI (United States) – Group D of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Americas Qualifiers returns to the court this Sunday, July 5. With Uruguay, Argentina, and Panama already having secured their places in the Second Round, the only remaining question is the final standings in the group at the end of the First Round. Since all First Round results carry over to the Second Round and every game could prove decisive in the race to qualify for the FIBA Basketball World Cup, no team can afford to let up. Uruguay needs a victory over Cuba to retain first place in the group. Argentina must defeat Panama and hope Uruguay loses in order to finish atop the standings. Panama, meanwhile, is locked into third place regardless of the outcome.
Here are more facts and figures to know ahead of the July 5 matchups:
Schedule
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URU vs. CUB
Uruguay have lost three of their last four home games in the World Cup Qualifiers, including on Thursday against Argentina (79-91), as many defeats as in their previous nine home games in the competition.
Cuba have lost their 17 games in the World Cup Qualifiers, conceding 80+ points in each of the most recent six.
Uruguay’s Joaquin Rodriguez has scored at least 19 points in each of his last four games in the World Cup Qualifiers after never scoring more than 15 points in any of his first 18 appearances.
Anthony Rodriguez had 16 points and 10 rebounds against Panama on Thursday, only the second Cuban player to record a double-double in his very first World Cup Qualifiers game, after Javier Justiz in November 2017.
PAN vs. ARG
Argentina have won their previous five meetings with Panama in the World Cup Qualifiers, scoring at least 87 points in three of the most recent four.
Panama have won two of their last three games in the World Cup Qualifiers after winning only one of the previous nine. They have won their last two home games but have never won more in a row in the competition.
Argentina have won their last three away games in the World Cup Qualifiers after losing four of the previous six.
Eric Romero had 14 points and 14 rebounds on Thursday against Cuba, his first double-double in 15 World Cup Qualifiers games and the most rebounds for any Panama player in a game in the competition. He also recorded four blocks, equaling the competition record for a Panama player in a single game, which he set himself against the Bahamas in November 2022.
Gabriel Deck (Argentina) has scored more than 15 points in each of his last six games as a starter in the World Cup Qualifiers, averaging 24.2 points per game in that run; this includes 25 points and 6 rebounds against Panama in March this year, a game in which he scored four 3-pointers, his personal best in the competition.
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