Preview: Which teams will advance to the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers?

MUNICH (Germany) - The Second Round of the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Pre-Qualifiers reaches its conclusion this week with the final window taking place.

The three group winners and the automatically-qualified Cyprus will advance to FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers.

The eight teams that do not advance from the Second Round will join the four teams eliminated from the First Round in the Third Round, where the final spots in the Qualifiers will be decided.

Here's a look through each of the three groups:

Group D

8/12 games played

		GAMES				GAME POINTS					POINTS
#	Team	P	W	L	%	For	Agt	+/-	FA	AA
1	North Macedonia	4	4	0	100	284	252	32	71	63	8
2	Norway	4	2	2	50.0	278	269	9	69.5	67.2	6
3	Slovakia	4	2	2	50.0	285	292	-7	71.2	73	6
4	Denmark	4	0	4	0	286	320	-34	71.5	80	4

Thursday, February 23
Slovakia v North Macedonia - 18:00 CET
Denmark v Norway - 19:00 CET

Sunday, February 26
Denmark v Slovakia - 15:30 CET
Norway v North Macedonia - 18:00 CET

Unbeaten North Macedonia are in control of Group D heading into the final window with games against their closest challengers on the road. They just need an additional victory to confirm top spot, but could also advance on Gameday 5 with a loss of 3 points or fewer, if Norway lose.

The task is simple for both Slovakia and Norway in that they need to win both games and hope each other also beat North Macedonia. This would set up a three-way tie for top spot, so points difference will also be a crucial factor in this window.

Denmark have already been eliminated from contention to qualify, but they could still play an important part as they look to entertain their fans at home: starting with another derby clash with Norway.

Group E

8/12 games played

		GAMES				GAME POINTS					POINTS
#	Team	P	W	L	%	For	Agt	+/-	FA	AA
1	Poland	4	3	1	75.0	326	270	56	81.5	67.5	7
2	Croatia	4	3	1	75.0	335	284	51	83.8	71	7
3	Switzerland	4	2	2	50.0	266	292	-26	66.5	73	6
4	Austria	4	0	4	0	259	340	-81	64.8	85	4

Thursday, February 23
Poland v Austria - 18:00 CET
Switzerland v Croatia - 19:30 CET

Sunday, February 26
Switzerland v Poland - 17:00 CET
Croatia v Austria - 18:00 CET

Poland and Croatia are locked at 3-1 at the top of Group E, however it is the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 semi-finalists with the upper hand after claiming the head-to-head in the previous window. 

Victory over Austria on Gameday 5 would push Poland closer to clinching top spot, though they will still head to Fribourg uncertain. Switzerland can also still advance, but they need to beat both of the top two on home soil in order to have a chance at doing so.

Group F

8/12 games played

		GAMES				GAME POINTS					POINTS
#	Team	P	W	L	%	For	Agt	+/-	FA	AA
1	Portugal	4	4	0	100	357	268	89	89.2	67	8
2	Bulgaria	4	3	1	75.0	325	281	44	81.2	70.2	7
3	Romania	4	1	3	25.0	262	316	-54	65.5	79	5
4	Cyprus	4	0	4	0	255	334	-79	63.8	83.5	4

Thursday, February 23
Cyprus v Portugal - 18:00 CET
Romania v Bulgaria - 18:00 CET

Sunday, February 26
Romania v Cyprus - 15:30 CET
Bulgaria v Portugal - 17:00 CET

Portugal could seal top spot on Gameday 5 with a win, if Bulgaria fail to beat Romania. The top two teams meet in Botevgrad on Sunday in a game which could prove to be decisive for pole position in Group F.

The previous meeting saw Portugal win by 10 points, so Bulgaria would need to better that margin to claim the head-to-head should both teams win on Thursday. Romania and Cyprus cannot win the group, but Cyprus are heading to the Qualifiers as co-hosts for FIBA EuroBasket 2025.

FIBA