Doha: The Qatar basketball team is gearing up to face Japan, China, and the Republic of Korea in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers. This tournament marks a historic milestone as it is being held for the first time in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, scheduled from August 27 to September 12, 2027.
According to Qatar News Agency, Qatar concluded the First Round of the Asian Qualifiers in second place in Group D, amassing 10 points, just behind Lebanon, who led the group with 11 points. Saudi Arabia and India rounded out the group in third and fourth place, respectively. Under the qualifying format, teams from Groups B and D merged into Group F, where Qatar secured the third position, tied with Japan at 10 points. Lebanon continued to lead with 11 points, while the Republic of Korea, China, and Saudi Arabia followed with 9 points each.
In the Second Round, each team will compete in a home-and-away format against teams from the opposing group, avoiding matchups with teams they faced in the First Round. Qatar will commence their campaign against China in Doha on August 27, followed by a visit to Japan on August 30. The second window scheduled for November 26 and 29 will see Qatar hosting the Republic of Korea and Japan. The qualifiers will conclude with matches against China and the Republic of Korea in February and March of the following year.
The Qatar Basketball Federation has praised the team's performance in the First Round, highlighting their qualification to the Second Round. Despite being the host nation and securing a spot in the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027, Qatar is determined to compete vigorously and achieve notable results. The Federation views the qualifiers as an opportunity to enhance the team's competitive spirit, technical prowess, and readiness for the World Cup.
Furthermore, the Federation acknowledged the team's fighting spirit and capability to secure positive outcomes against seasoned opponents on both continental and global levels. This underscores the significant efforts of Qatar's players, along with their coaching and administrative staff, throughout the First Round of the Asian Qualifiers, marked by competitive and tightly contested games.