MIES (Switzerland) - Window 4 action tips off on Thursday with three compelling Group F games.
World Cup 2027 hosts Qatar commence proceedings against China in Doha, followed by Saudi Arabia welcoming Japan in Jeddah. Wrapping up the August 27 slate, Lebanon will greet Korea at the cacophonous Nouhad Nawfal Sports Complex in Zouk Mikael.
A surging Qatar has been going all out to ensure their assured participation at next year's global showpiece isn't a mere formality. But it will be a different-looking team this Window, devoid of top performers Brandon Goodwin and Alen Hadzibegovic, with point guard Mike Lewis II as one the 'returning' faces, having last appeared in the Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers.
On their part, Team Dragon will be anchored yet again by the 210 cm / 6'10" Jinqiu Hu. Uncharacteristically, China are beginning Group F proceedings in fifth place, well outside the top three cut-off for a spot in the World Cup. So all eyes will be on whether their Second Round proves more fortuitous than the first.
For Saudi Arabia, placed at the bottom of Group E with a 3-3 record, it will be a test of character against the Rui Hachimura and Yuki Kawamura-starring AKATSUKI JAPAN. Both Hachimura and Kawamura are currently contracted by the LA Clippers, making this a dynamic duo not just for their national team but also across the Pacific, potentially in the NBA.
The Saudis will be counting on the Jeddah faithful to show up in support, as the 65th-ranked side meets the challenge of facing an 11th-place finisher at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Saudi Arabia will lean heavily on their big two of center Mohammad Alsuwailem and shooting guard Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman. Both feature in the top three when it comes to scoring (Rahkman stands fourth at 21.8 points per game) and rebounds (Alsuwailem is third at 11.2 per game).
In the day's last matchup, an underhanded Cedars deal with the daunting task of containing a Lee Hyunjung led Korea. Lebanon are missing their starting point guard Wael Arakji, who is 10 points shy of becoming the fifth player in the Asia region to have scored over 300 points in the World Cup Qualifiers.
When it comes to historical head-to-head results in major FIBA competitions, Korea are marginally ahead at 7-6, including three straight victories dating back to the World Cup 2019 Qualifiers. If Lebanon does triumph at Zouk Mikael it will be their first win over Korea in nine years, after the 72-66 verdict at Asia Cup 2017.
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Qatar have won four of their last five games in the World Cup Qualifiers after winning only two of the previous 13. They were leading at half-time in only one of those last four wins.
China have won 10 of their last 11 games played in the second round of the World Cup Qualifiers, including the most recent seven. Nine of their last 10 games at that round ended with a margin of greater than 10 points.
Qatar (10.7topg) and China (11.2topg) are two of the three teams with the fewest turnovers per game in the Asian region in the World Cup 2027 Qualifiers, with only Australia performing better than them (9.7) in this category.
Japan have won 11 of their 12 games played in the second round of the World Cup Qualifiers and they have won the most recent five at that stage, all by margins of at least 13 points.
Saudi Arabia (76.5%) and Japan (77.6%) are the two teams with the highest FT% in the World Cup 2027 Qualifiers in the Asian region; Japan have made more than 80% of their attempted free- throws in four of their six games in the current campaign.
Mohammed Alsuwailem has posted 15+ points and 9+ rebounds in five of his last six games for Saudi Arabia in the World Cup Qualifiers; he is averaging 10.5 rebounds per game, the second highest average amongst all players with more than 10 appearances in the Asian region (Qi Zhou – 10.7).
Joshua Hawkinson (Japan) has averaged 21.0 points and 9.7 rebounds in his seven appearances in the World Cup Qualifiers, scoring at least one 3-pointer in each of those games; he had a double-double in five of his seven games.
Lebanon have won nine of their last 10 home games in the World Cup Qualifiers with six of those wins ending with a margin of at least 29 points; however, they lost at home against Korea in February 2019 during the second round of the World Cup 2019 Qualifiers (72-84).
Korea have won all six games played in the second round of the World Cup Qualifiers, all with a double-digit margin; they scored 84+ points in each of those six games.
Lebanon are the only team in Asia to have scored 20+ points per game from fastbreak situations in the World Cup 2027 Qualifiers (22.3ppg) while Korea have scored the fewest such points per game in the region (7.5ppg).
Hyunjung Lee (Korea) has averaged 24.8 points and 9.8 rebounds in four appearances in the World Cup Qualifiers. He has also made 4.8 3-pointers per game on average in that run.
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