MUNICH (Germany) – After a thrilling first window, the road to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 continues on February 27 with the second instalment of European Qualifiers across the continent.
The second window sees the participating teams in a back-to-back against the same team in what could be pivotal for hopes of progressing to the next stage.
The top three teams in each group will advance to the Second Round of the European Qualifiers, where they will continue their qualification battles for one of 12 tickets reserved for European teams.
For more on the competition system, see here.
Ukraine vs Spain
Date: Feb 27 - 13:00 CET - Xiaomi Arena, Riga (LAT) Date: Mar 2 - 19:30 CET - Palacio de los Deportes de Oviedo, Oviedo (ESP)
Both Spain and Ukraine enter their round of games against each other in Group A unbeaten, following two wins in Window 1. Spain collected a hard-fought 74-64 victory over Denmark and dismissed Georgia at home 90-61. Ukraine’s current path was similar as they bagged double-digit victories against the same two sides with a 92-79 success over Georgia followed by an 88-71 win over Denmark. For Ukraine, they aim to build on their positive start and reassert themselves on the global stage, while Spain looks to bounce back following a forgettable FIBA EuroBasket campaign, in which they were eliminated in the Group Phase.
Denmark vs Georgia
Date: Feb 27 - 17:30 CET – Farum Arena, Farum (DEN) Date: Mar 2 – 17:00 CET – Tbilisi Arena, Tbilisi (GEO)
Denmark and Georgia square off, desperate to keep their hopes of reaching the FIBA Basketball World Cup alive. Both teams lost their opening two games by double digits, though Denmark showed a lot of fight against the 2019 World Champions, Spain. The two teams met during the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers; splitting the two games. Georgia needed a Duda Sanadze score with seven seconds left to score a two-point win, with Denmark gaining revenge 48 hours later, bagging a narrow six-point success, so two more exciting battles in this window look likely.
Türkiye vs Serbia
Date: Feb 27 – 18:00 CET - Aleksandar Nikolic Hall, Belgrade (SRB) Date: Mar 2 – 18:00 CET - Turkcell Basketball Development Centre, Istanbul (TUR)
FIBA EuroBasket 2025 runners-up, Türkiye, will go head-to-head with Serbia again, with the Serbs looking to avenge their loss to the Turkish outfit in the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Group Stage. Serbia, however, has answered back from its summer disappointment with two wins out of two in Group C, while Turkey has certainly impressed in these Qualifiers, with two victories of 20 points or more. A convincing 93-71 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina was followed by a ruthless 85-60 win away to Switzerland.
Croatia vs Germany
Date: Feb 27 – 19:00 CET - Drazen Petrovic Basketball Center, Zagreb (CRO) Date: Mar 1 – 17:00 CET - Telekom Dome, Bonn (GER)
Reigning World champions Germany have begun their quest for back-to-back crowns in solid fashion, with convincing wins over Israel and Cyprus in Window 1. But they come up against a Croatia side that missed the boat for qualification to EuroBasket last summer and are eager to rebuild and get back on track following a dominant Pre-Qualifiers campaign, where they won all four games by a winning average of 28.5 points. And so far, so good, as they have also scored two wins out of two like the Germans, but the World and European champions will be a different test.
Poland vs Latvia
Date: Feb 27 – 17:30 CET - Xiaomi Arena, Riga (LAT) Date: Mar 1 – 19:30 CET - Polsat Plus Arena, Gdynia (POL)
For two teams with such an established history in world basketball, surprisingly, you have to go back to 2002 for their last meeting, but for the sixth time, Poland looks to continue their unbeaten start against Latvia, who are currently 1-1. For the Poles, a 90-78 rout of Austria and a narrow 85-83 success over the Netherlands have put them on top of Group F, whereas the Latvians, they suffered a surprise 86-79 loss to the Dutch before rebounding to beat the winless Austrians 86-78.
Czechia vs Slovenia
Date: Feb 27 – 17:30 CET - Bonifika Arena, Koper (SLO) Date: Mar 1 – 17:00 CET - Horacka Arena, Jihlava (CZE)
Nearly 13 years removed from their last encounter at FIBA EuroBasket 2013, Czechia and Slovenia will renew their rivalry with the Czechs 2-0 and Slovenia 1-1 in Group H. Czechia has bagged wins over Sweden and Estonia and averaged 54 percent from the field across those two games, showing tremendous execution from the field. Conversely, Slovenia were stunned 94-93 by Estonia as a layup by Henri Drell and a dagger three from Kristian Kullamae in the final 15 seconds sealed matters. The Slovenians did bounce back with a 94-83 success over Sweden, but they can not afford a defeat in this window.
Hungary vs France
Date: Feb 27 – 17:00 CET - Schaeffler Arena Savaria, Szombathely (HUN) Date: Mar 1 – 17:00 CET – Antares, Le Mans (FRA)
European powerhouses France, find themselves on the back foot when they open their second window with a pair of games against Hungary. While Les Bleus are 1-1 in Group G, the Hungarians boast a spotless 2-0 record. After comfortably dispatching Belgium in their Qualifiers opener, the French were rocked by Finland 48 hours later, whereas Hungary picked up two wins over the same opponents. This could really set a platform if they were to beat France in at least one of the two matchups.
Great Britain vs Italy
Date: Feb 27 – 19:30 CET – Vertu Arena, Newcastle-upon-Tyne (GBR) Date: Mar 2 – 18:30 CET - Palazzetto Amedeo Modigliani Forum, Livorno (ITA)
Group D is undoubtedly the tightest group out of all the Qualifiers right now, with all four teams deadlocked at 1-1 after Window 1. Great Britain suffered unimaginable heartbreak in their opener against Lithuania, falling victim to three triples in the final nine seconds by Ignas Sargiunas to lose to the Baltic side 89-88, before bouncing back admirably to beat Iceland 90-84 in Reykjavik. Italy, though, put the Lithuanians in GB’s shoes in their meeting as Nico Mannion hit the decisive bucket with seven seconds left to win 82-81. Before that, they were humbled 81-76 by Iceland. A big game for both sides, but Italy hold the advantage, having won all three games against Great Britain.
Iceland vs Lithuania
Date: Feb 27 – 19:30 CET – Laugardalsholl, Reykjavik (ISL) Date: Mar 2 – 16:30 CET - Svyturio Arena, Klaipeda (LTU)
Like Italy’s advantage over GB, Lithuania also holds a flawless 3-0 record over their upcoming opponents, Iceland, with its last victory coming all the way back in 1999. However, Iceland are a much stronger side than the one the Baltic giants played before the turn of the millennium, with three FIBA EuroBasket appearances, and they are in a good position to qualify for their first FIBA Basketball World Cup. Lithuania will aim to build on their own 1-1 mark and make their move to the next phase.
Greece vs Montenegro
Date: Feb 27 – 17:00 CET – SUNEL Arena, Athens (GRE) Date: Mar 2 – 18:00 CET - Moraca Sports Centre, Podgorica (MNE)
Unbeaten Greece will look to create some separation between them and the chasing pack in Group B when they meet Montenegro in an intriguing battle in Window 2. Greece are currently unbeaten at 2-0 with comfortable wins over Romania and Portugal, while shooting a shade under 40 percent from three-point land on 13 attempts, while trigger-happy Montenegro split their first two games but took a whopping 31 three-pointers on average, resulting in 22 percent from distance, so execution could play a factor.
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