ZOUK MIKAEL (Lebanon) - Qatar had already come close to defeating Lebanon twice this year.
It could be recalled that the team bowed to an 84-80 in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025, before absorbing a 75-74 defeat earlier this week in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers.
So when they held on to a three-point lead at the final buzzer in Zouk Mikael on Sunday night, Qatar roared.
Of course, it was a big win for the World Cup 2027 hosts, but just how significant was this victory?
This might end up being one of the biggest upsets of the World Cup Qualifiers so far - at least according to the 57-rank gap between the two teams.
FIBA World Ranking Presented by NIKE - Men
Team | World Rank |
|---|---|
Lebanon | 30. |
Qatar | 87. |
This was Qatar's first win in the World Cup Qualifiers since July 2, 2018 - and only their 3rd win overall since the 2019 World Cup Qualifiers.
This was also Qatar's first win over Lebanon since 2015 in major FIBA competitions, and only their 3rd win in previous 9 head-to-head meetings.
Beating Lebanon has never been an easy task on any court, but even more so when they play at home in front of their fans. The last time they lost a Qualifiers game in Lebanon was back in 2019 - and they had won 10 straight games since.
Lebanon's home record* since last home defeat
Opponent | Competition | Date | Result | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Korea | World Cup 2019 Qualifiers | 23 FEB 2019 | L | |
Iraq | Asia Cup 2022 Qualifiers | 21 FEB 2020 | W | |
Bahrain | Asia Cup 2022 Qualifiers | 24 FEB 2020 | W | |
Indonesia | World Cup 2023 Qualifiers | 26 NOV 2021 | W | |
Jordan | World Cup 2023 Qualifiers | 1 JUL 2022 | W | |
Saudi Arabia | World Cup 2023 Qualifiers | 4 JUL 2022 | W | |
Philippines | World Cup 2023 Qualifiers | 25 AUG 2022 | W | |
New Zealand | World Cup 2023 Qualifiers | 10 NOV 2022 | W | |
Bahrain | Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers | 27 FEB 2024 | W | |
Syria | Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers | 24 NOV 2024 | W | |
UAE | Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers | 24 FEB 2025 | W | |
Qatar | World Cup 2027 Qualifiers | 30 NOV 2025 | L |
*in World Cup Qualifiers and Asia Cup Qualifiers
FIBA