Qatar/Patiala, May 14, (Sports Desk)
The Indian men’s basketball team has been drawn in Group D of the FIBA World Cup 2027 Qualifiers, alongside Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and hosts Qatar, as they aim to secure a historic first appearance at the tournament’s main draw. The draw took place on Tuesday at ALHAZM in Doha, the venue for the FIBA World Cup, set for August 27 to September 12, 2027. This marks the first time the Men’s Basketball World Cup will be held in the Arab world and the third consecutive edition in Asia.
To advance to the first round of qualifiers, India must finish among the top three in Group D. Qatar, as hosts, automatically progresses to the second round and the main tournament, leaving India, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia to compete for the two remaining spots. Matches will be played on a home-and-away basis across six qualification windows from November 24, 2025, to March 2, 2027.
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FIBA World Cup 2027 Qualifiers – Asia and Oceania Draw:
- Group A: Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, Guam
- Group B: Japan, China, South Korea, Chinese Taipei
- Group C: Iran, Jordan, Syria, Iraq
- Group D: Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, India, Qatar
Team Rankings in Group D:
- Lebanon: World No. 29
- Saudi Arabia: World No. 65
- India: World No. 76
- Qatar: World No. 87
Qualification Windows:
- November 24–December 2, 2025
- February 23–March 3, 2026
- June 29–July 7, 2026
- August 24–September 1, 2026
- November 23–December 1, 2026
- February 22–March 2, 2027
A total of 80 teams from Africa (16), Americas (16), Asia and Oceania (16), and Europe (32) will compete in the qualifiers. The FIBA World Cup 2027 will feature 32 nations and serve as a qualifying event for the LA 2028 Olympics. Germany, ranked World No. 3, are the defending champions, having won their maiden title in 2023.
India, yet to qualify for any of the previous 19 editions of the FIBA World Cup, faces a challenging yet exciting opportunity to make history in this six-window qualification cycle.
