MIES (Switzerland) - The penultimate leg of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers is upon us and as early as now, we take a look at the games that shall add even more flair to a crucial Window 5.
From traditional adversaries crossing paths again and to teams brewing up new rivalries gaining steam among fans and observers alike, here are the 7 bouts you should watch out for in the November 26-29 tilt.
Qatar versus Korea
November 26, Thursday Al Janoub Stadium Doha, Qatar 19:00 local time
It's not just another gauge to see where the 2027 World Cup hosts are. Qatar are coming in with revenge in mind, looking to get even with a team that contributed to their forgettable FIBA Asia Cup campaign last year.
For those unfamiliar, the team from the Gulf Region bowed out of the continental tilt with a 0-3 record and one of the reasons behind their winless run were Korea, who beat them, 97-83, with Lee Hyunjung starring.
In all fairness, Team Qatar did not go down without a fight, threatening their East Asian counterparts with a major comeback in which they chopped a lead as big as 21 to just five, 85-80, with 3:05 left in the game.
Too bad that Brandon Goodwin & Co. couldn't get ahead and Lee would go on to punish them for that, powering the Koreans' strong finish to post their first win of the tourney held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Come November 26, both teams are bound to meet again in Qatar's own stomping grounds. With Lee not around this time, will this be a golden opportunity for the home team to avenge last year's defeat?
And if ever they get the job done, that shall bring their FIBA head-to-head to 4-4 - Team Korea currently has the edge, 4-3, although both teams have traded wins against one another in their last four encounters.
Lebanon versus Japan
November 26, Thursday Nouhad Nawfal Sports Complex Zouk Mikael, Lebanon 21:00 local time
Similar to the aforementioned Qatar-Korea meeting, Lebanon and Japan will be locking horns for the first time since the 2025 Asia Cup, with the former looking to assert mastery of their foes from East Asia once more.
Because the last time they fought, the Cedars won in convincing fashion, 97-73, to book themselves a ticket to the Asia Cup Quarter-Finals, leaning on a balanced attack headed by Dedric Lawson with 24 points and 10 rebounds.
Aside from advancing to the Final Phase, the West Asian contenders have won against the Japanese for the 5th time in 6 outings in FIBA play, with that rout their second in a row according to available records.
With their upcoming match taking place in Zouk Mikael, Coach Ahmad Farran and his charges are definitely aiming to stretch their winning streak to 3. But they know, too, that trying to do so won't be any easy.
Because they will be taking on a Japan side that's coming off a perfect Window 4, having beaten Saudi Arabia and Qatar, in that order, in dominant fashion. They beat those teams by an average margin of 40.5 points.
The Lebanese, on the other hand, are still picking themselves up from a very narrow loss to China, 89-87, in which they got beaten by a Yang Hansen layup in the dying seconds to cap off an impressive window personally.
Jordan versus New Zealand
November 27, Friday Karisma Arena Seremban, Malaysia 14:00 local time
For the first time in 3 years, Jordan and New Zealand are bound to lock horns in a battle between Group E teams, with the Falcons looking to stop a Tall Blacks team that's in the midst of a 6-game winning streak.
The team from West Asia is also keen on ending a skid against the same team, having lost to the Oceania unit in their last 2 meetings, including a 95-87 decision during the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 in Manila.
But their November 27 bout won't just be about getting back at the Kiwis. It's going to be a test as well for the Jordanians of Coach Luis Guil, as it would be their first game without star big man Ahmad Al Dwairi.
For those unfamiliar yet, the veteran internationalist suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear during the 20th Asian Games last September. He got hurt during their first game of the event versus Chinese Taipei.
Not only did that hurt their chances in the tournament eventually ruled by Korea, but his absence for a significant amount of time is indeed a massive blow to their aspirations of booking a return trip to the World Cup.
That is why eyes will be on the remaining Falcons, headed by Freddy Ibrahim, on how they'd respond to this challenge of missing the towering big man, especially against a team as formidable as New Zealand.
Iran versus Australia
November 27, Friday Karisma Arena Seremban, Malaysia 17:00 local time
Can Australia extend their winning run to 20 games? That's one of the biggest questions fans are wondering about, as the Boomers are coming into Window 5 riding a blazing 18-game winning streak.
The Boomers last lost in FIBA play during the 2024 Paris Olympics. They've been in this stupendous stretch since, highlighted by a 'three-peat' completion in the 2025 Asia Cup where they went 6-0.
They're 8-0 in the 2027 World Cup Qualifiers, and are looking to win their 19th straight outing against Iran. But surely, they're coming in wary as Team Australia will be facing one of the teams that beat them before.
Since competing in Asia, only two teams have taken down the Oceania powerhouse and that includes Team Melli, who came away with an 85-74 victory during Window 6 of the 2019 World Cup Qualifiers in Tehran.
That game saw the Iranians lean on Behnam Yakhchali and Mo Jamshidi as they finished with at least 21 points apiece, and it sure is great news with the star tandem potentially available to reunite for the window ahead.
Jamshidi had previously suited up in Window 4 and while he continues to regain his classic touch, having one of his good pals around once more shall make Iran an exciting bunch to watch against the Boomers.
Saudi Arabia versus Korea
November 29, Sunday Al Janoub Stadium Doha, Qatar 19:00 local time
Can Mo Alsuwailem give Korea another long night? Saudi Arabia did lose to the East Asian side back in Window 4 but the seasoned big man became the story after submitting his best showing in the FIBA stage to date.
There, the towering 28-year-old center finished with monster numbers of 31 points and 15 rebounds to finish with an efficiency of 42 - the most by any player across all regions in the 2027 World Cup Qualifiers thus far.
Still, it was the Koreans who came away triumphant, 85-72, with Lee Hyunjung leading the pack with 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists as his all-around play enabled themselves to improve to 4-4 and boost their bid.
The star winger, however, won't be around this time. Will this be an opportunity for 'Big Mo' and Saudi to get even?
Or, will Team Korea remain unbeaten against their Gulf counterparts? Because according to available records, they've won all of their three encounters against Saudi Arabia in FIBA play in a streak that dates back to 1999.
Needless to say, they'd want to make it 4-0 when they meet in Doha. But we shouldn't expect the Saudis to just throw in the towel, given how close they were in upending the upset axe the last time they fought.
Iran versus Philippines
November 29, Sunday Karisma Arena Seremban, Malaysia 20:00 local time
If there's a game in this window that Iran will be taking personally, it should be their matchup against the Philippines, especially after what happened in their previous encounter back in Window 4 in Manila.
Team Melli, at the time, were looking to win four straight against Gilas, only for the latter to flip the script and come away with the 68-56 decision - much to the delight of the home crowd at the Mall of Asia Arena.
And 'puso' was on full display that night, with the Filipino dribblers overcoming an 18-7 first-quarter deficit through grit before firing a 14-2 rally behind AJ Edu, Dwight Ramos, and Kai Sotto to finish the game strongly.
That win not only ended a skid against the three-time Asia Cup champions but also revived the Philippines' hopes of reaching Qatar as they finished the fourth window with a 2-game sweep to even their record to 4-4.
With that same troika coming back to lead Gilas, and with a new reinforcement in Bennie Boatwright set to make his debut, will they be able to repeat against Team Iran when they battle it out in Seremban?
For sure, the Iranians wouldn't want that to happen, for they are hungry to get back on track and keep their World Cup chances up after getting blanked in Window 4, with their other loss coming from New Zealand, 91-93.
Lebanon versus China
November 29, Sunday Nouhad Nawfal Sports Complex Zouk Mikael, Lebanon 21:00 local time
Nothing stings worse than losing in the closing seconds of a ball game and that's exactly the predicament Lebanon fell into when they bowed to a Yang game-winner during their Window 4 meeting in Zhuji.
Game was tied until the charges of Coach Gup Shiqiang executed his play to perfection, which saw the 'Chinese Jokic' catch the sideline inbound near the rim before kissing it off to glass for the eventual 89-87 victory.
That winning shot also concluded easily the best window of Yang so far with China. He tallied 19 points and 9 rebounds, finishing Window 4 with averages of 17.0 points and 9.0 rebounds with a 25.5 efficiency per game.
Fortunately for the Cedars, an opportunity to get back on Team Dragon lies ahead in Window 5.
They will be hosting the Chinese on November 29 at the Nouhad Nawfal Sports Complex, hoping that homecourt advantage would work in their favor when they take on a team that won't be having Yang around this time.
The talented center is busy with the Trail Blazers in the ongoing 2026-27 NBA season, and his absence will surely be something that the Lebanese are keen on exploiting. But, can they capitalize? That we have to see.
FIBA