MIES (Switzerland) - The race for the 12 European spots at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 is taking shape, as some of the teams are already eyeing qualification to the main event.
Sunday brings us six games in Groups K and L, the biggest one being the matchup between the defending world champions Germany, and one of a 7-0 surprise package of the Qualifiers in Poland.
In that same group, Croatia are taking their 6-1 record on the road in the Netherlands, while Latvia (3-4) and Israel (2-5) face each other in an attempt to salvage World Cup chances.
In Group L, either Sweden or France will go 2-0 in this window, as the two teams battle at the Avicii Arena in Stockholm.
Estonia and Finland have a date set up in Tallinn, while Slovenia and Hungary face off in Ljubljana.
Only the top three from each group will book their flights to Qatar next summer.
Who do you think will have a successful end to Window 4 on Sunday? Cast your vote below and let us know!
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Netherlands have lost their last 11 home games in the World Cup Qualifiers, however, they won the only previous time they hosted Croatia in the competition, 68-61 in November 2017.
Croatia became the first European team to score 100+ points in three consecutive games in the Qualifiers. Mario Hezonja (Croatia) has averaged an efficiency rating of 22.9 in his nine games the World cup Qualifiers, the best among the players in Europe with more than five games played.
Poland have won 10 of their 12 home games in the World Cup Qualifiers, including the most recent five, but their last home defat was against Germany, 69-72 in November 2021.
Dennis Schroder (Germany) has had 20+ points and 5+ assists in each of his last three games in the World Cup Qualifiers, while only Luka Doncic (4) has recorded a longer such run in Europe in the competition.
Sweden have won their last four games in the World Cup Qualifiers, their best winning run in the competition. No player has grabbed 10+ rebounds in more World Cup Qualifiers games in Europe than Sweden’s Simon Birgander (8).
France made 37 free-throws against Slovenia on Thursday, establishing a new record for a team in a World Cup Qualifiers game, all regions included.
Victor Wembanyama dropped 22 points in his most recent game with France in the World Cup Qualifiers (vs. Slovenia), but is yet to score 20+ points in back-to-back games in the competition.
Latvia’s three victories in the World Cup Qualifiers have all came in games in which they were not outrebounded, while they have been defeated in all games in which they grabbed fewer boards than their opponents (L4).
Roman Sorkin (Israel) has averaged 17.1 points and 6.1 rebounds in his last seven games in the World Cup Qualifiers.
Finland have lost their last two games in the World Cup Qualifiers but have never lost three in a row in the competition.
Kristian Kullamae has scored 20+ points in two games of the World Cup 2027 Qualifiers, more than in his previous 19 appearances across the last two campaigns combined; he is yet to miss a free-throw in the current qualification (9/9).
Hungary have won their last two games in the World Cup Qualifiers, but they have never won three in a row during a single campaign of qualifiers. They have lost four of their last five away games, however.
Slovenia’s Alen Omic has grabbed more than five rebounds in each of his seven games in the World Cup Qualifiers, averaging 8.0 boards per game. He has reached double-digit in scoring only once in his seven appearances (11pts v Sweden in December 2025).
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