MIAMI (United States) — Later this month, the Second Round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Americas Qualifiers kicks off on August 27. The field has been trimmed from 16 to 12, starting with Window 4, and only seven will advance to Doha, Qatar, for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 next summer.
Teams are expected to field strong rosters with hopes of getting one step closer to their goal. Here is one player from each team to watch out for in Window 4.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker - CAN
SHOOTING GUARD
Date of birth: September 2, 1998 Height: 1.96 m / 6'5" Team: Atlanta Hawks (USA)
The 2025-26 NBA Most Improved Player, Alexander-Walker, made his Americas Qualifiers debut in Window 3 for a star-studded Canadian roster that featured Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Andrew Nembhard, Dillon Brooks and more. Now, Alexander-Walker is just one of a few NBA players expected to play for Canada in Window 4.
Fans should expect Alexander-Walker, who averaged 10.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game during Window 3, to have the ball in his hands more often this window. Canada is off to a 6-0 start and is looking to remain undefeated following the matchups against Panama and Argentina.
Brandon Knight - USA
POINT GUARD
Date of birth: December 2, 1991 Height: 1.88 m / 6'2" Team: AEK BC (GRE)
Knight made the First Round All-Star Five after averaging 17.0 points, 7.0 assists and 1.0 steal, with an efficiency rating of 20.8 through four games in Windows 1 and 2. He scored over 15 points in three games and had at least five assists in three games.
With the 33-year-old point guard returning to action in Window 4, he will share a backcourt with Mike James for a strong tandem. The USA is 5-1 and begins the Second Round with matchups against Chile and Colombia.
Yago Santos - BRA
POINT GUARD
Date of birth: March 9, 1999 Height: 1.78 m / 5'10" Team: Flamengo (BRA)
Santos will suit up for Brazil once again after a strong showing in Window 3, in which he had two games with an efficiency rating over 30. Against Venezuela, he had 20 points, 6 rebounds and 13 assists before posting 26 points and 7 assists versus Colombia.
One of the top Brazilians of his generation and the FIBA AmeriCup 2025 MVP, Santos hopes to continue Brazil’s undefeated streak through the qualifiers. They are 6-0 after a dominant First Round and will look to find continued success against tough foes in the Dominican Republic and Mexico.
Kai Jones - BAH
POWER FORWARD
Date of birth: January 19, 2001 Height: 2.10 m / 6'11" Team: Anadolu Efes SK (TUR)
Jones has appeared in four games for the Bahamas throughout the qualifiers so far, and he has made his impact felt each time. He has appeared for at least 20 minutes and has had an efficiency rating over 10 in each contest, as he has averaged 12.0 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game.
Jones is joined by NBA talent around him in VJ Edgecombe Jr., Deandre Ayton, Buddy Hield and Eric Gordon for this window. The Bahamas is 2-4 and 5th in Group F, so they will need to string together wins to reach Doha. This window, they face Uruguay on the road ahead of a home contest versus Panama.
Leandro Bolmaro - ARG
SHOOTING GUARD
Date of birth: September 11, 2000 Height: 1.98 m / 6'6" Team: Olimpia Milano (ITA)
After nearly a two-and-a-half-year absence from the Argentinian national team, Bolmaro returned in Window 3, and his presence was immediately felt. In the win over Uruguay, who defeated the Argentines in Window 2, Bolmaro had 22 points, 3 rebounds and 3 steals. He followed that up with 13 points, 4 rebounds and 6 assists in another win over Panama.
Argentina is 5-1, but has a pair of tough tests this window. Bolmaro’s return will be important to hopefully record two victories. After hosting Puerto Rico, the team must travel to take on undefeated Canada.
Joaquin Rodriguez - URU
SHOOTING GUARD
Date of birth: June 14, 1999 Height: 1.94 m / 6'4" Team: Dreamland Gran Canaria (ESP)
The Most Valuable Player of the First Round, Rodriguez starred in all six games for Uruguay. There, he averaged 15.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 6.7 assists, while posting an efficiency rating of 21.7, the second-highest mark of the entire First Round.
The sensation returns for the Second Round, where competition only gets tougher. Uruguay is 5-1, but they still need a strong Second Round to qualify for their first FIBA Basketball World Cup since 1986. In Window 4, they host the Bahamas before traveling to Puerto Rico.
Pako Cruz - MEX
GUARD
Date of birth: October 3, 1989 Height: 1.90 m / 6'3" Team: Astros de Jalisco (MEX)
Cruz seemingly never misses an opportunity to play for Mexico, and that has continued to be the case in the Americas Qualifiers. He played in all six First Round games, in which he averaged 20.7 points and 5.8 assists per game. That includes a 30-point showing against the United States in Window 3.
The 36-year-old has played in two FIBA Basketball World Cups in his career, coming in 2014 and 2023. With a strong showing in Window 4, Cruz could put Mexico one step closer to Doha. The team is 3-3 with home matchups against Colombia and Brazil.
Joel Soriano - DOM
CENTER
Date of birth: January 30, 2000 Height: 2.11 m / 6'11" Team: Casademont Zaragoza (ESP)
Soriano has been consistently reliable for the Dominican Republic throughout Qualifiers, appearing in all six games thus far. The 26-year-old big man has averaged 12.0 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game. Most notably, however, Soriano set the single-game Americas Qualifiers blocks record, recording 7 blocks against Nicaragua in Window 3.
The Dominican Republic had a strong First Round, aided by Soriano. They finished 4-2, including a win over the USA in Window 2. In Window 4, they’ll take on Brazil and Chile.
Ismael Romero - PUR
POWER FORWARD
Date of birth: June 23, 1991 Height: 2.06 m / 6' 9" Team: Mets de Guaynabo (PUR)
Appearing in four games throughout qualifiers so far, Romero has been the definition of consistency for Puerto Rico. He has averaged 18.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, while shooting 67.4 percent from the floor.
Although the Carribeans went 0-2 without Romero in Window 1, his presence has stabilized the team. They have gone 2-2 with him in the lineup. Now, with a 2-4 record, Puerto Rico needs a strong Second Round to qualify for the FIBA Basketball World Cup. They play a pair of 5-1 teams this window, taking on Uruguay and Argentina.
Braian Angola - COL
FORWARD
Date of birth: April 6, 1994 Height: 1.95 m / 6'5" Team: Dreamland Gran Canaria (ESP)
Colombia played three games during Window 3, and Angola was a force in all of them. Through four games in the qualifiers, he has averaged 16 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game, helping Colombia to a 3-3 record. He scored in double figures in each contest.
The South Americans will play two road games in Window 4 after the country’s recent earthquake. They will play in Mexico before traveling to the United States, where they will no doubt be upset-hungry.
Felipe Haase - CHI
CENTER
Date of birth: March 19, 1998 Height: 2.05 m / 6'9" Team: Capitanes (MEX)
Chile entered Window 3 with a 0-4 record, sitting on the outside looking in on advancing to the Second Round. However, with a strong 2-0 record, they did just enough to make their way past the First Round. Haase averaged 12.5 points and 12.0 rebounds per game during Window 3 to help the South Americans advance to the Second Round for the first time in the nation’s history.
Through the qualifiers, Haase has appeared in all six games, averaging 14.8 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. Chile’s 2-4 record has them at the bottom of Group E, and they face the United States and Dominican Republic this window.
Iverson Molinar - PAN
GUARD
Date of birth: December 3, 1999 Height: 1.83 m / 6'0" Team: U-BT Cluj Napoca (ROU)
Molinar has quietly been one of the most consistent, productive players in qualifiers thus far, averaging 19.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 6.3 assists through four games in Windows 2 and 3. He has scored over 15 points in each contest, including 26 points in a win over Cuba in Window 2.
Panama is 2-4 and 6th in Group F. The team needs multiple wins to truly contend for one of the seven qualification spots. They have a difficult schedule this window, as they host Canada before traveling to the Bahamas.
FIBA