Preview: Who will make it to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers?

MUNICH (Germany) - The road to the FIBA Basketball World Cup is long and demanding and European teams will continue to battle for the spot with the Second Round of the Pre-Qualifiers set to take place this summer.

The 12 participating teams have been split into four groups with games played in a home-and-away round robin format across three weeks.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers, which get underway later this year.

Let us take a closer look at the groups and the state of the things ahead of the tip-off, which will commence on August 2:

Group D

Schedule:

August 2 - Slovakia v Switzerland, 18:00 CET August 6 - Switzerland v Ukraine, 19:00 CET August 9 - Ukraine v Slovakia, 16:00 CET August 13 - Switzerland v Slovakia, 19:00 CET August 16 - Ukraine v Switzerland, 16:00 CET August 20 - Slovakia v Ukraine, 18:00 CET

This group features the second-best ranked team among the bunch, Ukraine who have been marked a clear favorites for the top spot. Playing in the Qualifiers for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 and missing out on this year's EuroBasket, it's expected that Ukraine will bring some star power like Svi Mykhailiuk or Alex Len.

However, things will tip off between Slovakia and Switzerland in Bratislava where the home side already proved they can play with anybody in the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers when they took Spain to the wire and lost in a heartbreak, but these opponents look much more tailor-made for them.

Switzerland earned their place after a smooth sailing First Round. They recorded a perfect six wins, being the only team that went through the starting stage without a scratch. Maybe they don't have big NBA stars, but the Swiss strength is in a team that knows itself very well.

Watch out for: Svi Mykhailiuk (UKR), Timotej Malovec (SVK), Anthony Polite (SUI)

Group E

Schedule:

August 2 - North Macedonia v Romania, 20:00 CET August 6 - Romania v Hungary, 18:00 CET August 9 - Hungary v North Macedonia, 18:00 CET August 13 - Romania v North Macedonia, 18:00 CET August 16 - Hungary v Romania, 18:00 CET August 20 - North Macedonia - Hungary, 19:00 CET

Hungary was only a win short of qualifying for the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 but they couldn't make it past the competition of Italy, Iceland and Türkiye. Now they're here, looking to make it to the World Cup for the first time and they're bringing a team composed mainly from the domestic league, reinforced by Nate Reuvers - a valuable part of the rotation for ACB side Valencia.

North Macedonia is also part of the company who aimed for the EuroBasket and was not hoping to play at this stage; semi-finalists from FIBA EuroBasket 2011 have also never managed to qualify for the World Cup. A big blow for this task is that Nenad Dimitrijevic is not on the roster, but Jacob Wiley should lead the way from the backcourt.

Romania, on the other hand, had a fairly successful last spell, managing to overturn things in the First Round of the Pre-Qualifiers. It started a bit rocky with an unexpected loss to Luxembourg, but Romania won all three games since and placed at the top of the Group B, securing their Second Round spot.

Watch out for: Nate Reuvers (HUN), Jacob Wiley (MKD), Emanuel Cate (ROU)

Group F

Schedule:

August 2 - Netherlands v Austria, 14:30 CET August 6 - Austria v Bulgaria, 19:20 CET August 9 - Bulgaria v Netherlands, 17:00 CET August 13 - Austria v Netherlands, 19:20 CET August 16 - Bulgaria v Austria, 17:00 CET August 20 - Netherlands v Bulgaria, 19:30 CET

It should be very tight and evenly-spaced competition in this group with only 19 spots between the best-placed Bulgaria and Austria in the world rankings. Bulgaria fell short in the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers, finishing behind Germany, Montenegro and Sweden. However, Aleksandar Vezenkov should once again suit up in the effort of making it to the world's big stage for only the second time in Bulgaria's history.

Netherlands also fell short in the battle for tEuroBasket and they are looking for a redemption arc; Jesse Edwards is coming from the NBA and Keye van der Vuurst is always a reliable option for the Dutch who have took part at the World Cup only once, in 1986.

Austria will kick off the action in this group against Netherlands and their showing in that match will determine many things. They're not favorites of the group, not by a long shot, but after finishing the First Round at the top of their table, they will look to continue in that manner, especially with the addition of Jakob Poeltl.

Watch out for: Aleksandar Vezenkov (BUL), Jesse Edwards (NED), Jakob Poeltl (AUT)

Group G

Schedule:

August 2 - Denmark v Norway, 18:00 CET August 6 - Norway v Croatia, 18:00 CET August 9 - Croatia v Denmark, 20:30 CET August 13 - Norway v Denmark, 18:00 CET August 16 - Croatia v Norway, 20:30 CET August 20 - Denmark v Croatia, 19:00 CET

This group provides a clear favorite, though Croatia are used to disappointments in the recent years and missing out on the EuroBasket for the first time in history is just that. It feels like time for revenge for Croatia who are coming with a new coach and a lot of firepower - Mario Hezonja, Dario Saric and Karlo Matkovic stick out. Keep an eye on Croatia this summer.

Denmark - who should be once again be led by star Iffe Lundberg - are coming in with hopes of challenging Croatia. An unsuccessful spell in the EuroBasket Qualifiers is behind them also, but they sure are looking to start off the right foot with a derby against Norway on August 2.

Norway come in as the lowest-ranked team of the bunch. They managed to squeeze themselves into the Second Round of the Pre-Qualifiers as the best second-placed team, splitting the four games in the group with Romania and Luxembourg. The game points difference proved to be crucial and now Norway will look to stir up some upsets.

Watch out for: Dario Saric (CRO), Iffe Lundberg (DEN), Harald Frey (NOR)

FIBA