Doha [Qatar], February 27: Qatar's senior men's basketball team will play their first game in the second window of the Asian Qualifiers for the FIBA Basketball World Cup - Qatar 2027, as they host India at the Lusail Multi-Purpose Arena on Friday at 10pm.
The clash is one of the standout fixtures in Group D. At the same time, Lebanon will host Saudi Arabia at the Nouhad Nawfal Sports Complex in Beirut.
Ahead of this window, Saudi Arabia topped Group D with 4 points from back-to-back wins over India (75-51 and 81-57). Qatar followed in second place with 3 points, having lost narrowly to Lebanon in the first leg (74-75) before bouncing back with an away victory (86-83). Lebanon also sit on 3 points in third place, while India trail in fourth with 2 points after two defeats in the opening window.
This makes the Qatar-India matchup a crucial opportunity for the hosts to strengthen their tally and secure a stronger position before the decisive clash against Saudi Arabia on Monday, March 2, 2026.
Qatar prepared for the India and Saudi Arabia fixtures with an overseas training camp in Turkey. The camp was led by Turkish head coach Hakan Demir, who emphasized building team chemistry, diversifying offensive and defensive strategies, and raising physical readiness for the high-intensity competition. The program included intensive daily sessions, focusing on tactical variations to counter different playing styles, particularly India's, as they aim to deliver a surprise performance to keep their qualification hopes alive.
On the players' front, Qatar's standout duo Brandon Goodwin and Alen Hadzibegovic have proven to be a lethal offensive and defensive combination. Hadzibegovic averaged 16.5 points and 11 rebounds in the opening window, while Goodwin excelled with 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game. Together, they form the cornerstone of Qatar's approach, combining tough defense with fast, versatile offense.
The Asian and Oceanian qualifiers feature 16 teams divided into four groups. Group A includes Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, and Guam. Group B features Japan, China, South Korea, and Chinese Taipei. Group C comprises Iran, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq. Group D brings together Qatar, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and India.
The top three teams from each group advance to the second round, where they will be split into two new groups. From there, three teams from each group, plus the best fourth-placed team overall, will qualify for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027.
The qualifiers are organized across six windows spanning more than 18 months, from November 2025 to March 2027, giving teams ample time to prepare between official rounds. FIBA has set the following dates for the six 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.
Source: Qatar Tribune
