MUNICH (Germany) – The road to FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 takes the first step in Europe with the First Round of the Pre-Qualifiers.
The 10 participating nations have been split into three groups with games played in a home-and-away round robin format across three windows. There are four places up for grabs into the Second Round with each of the group winners advancing alongside the best-ranked runner-up.
Here’s a closer look at the groups ahead of the first window, which commences on February 22:
0/12 games played
Schedule:
February 22 – Switzerland v Azerbaijan – 19:00 CET
February 22 – Kosovo v Ireland – 19:00 CET
February 25 – Ireland v Switzerland – 16:00 CET
February 25 – Azerbaijan v Kosovo – 16:00 CET
The only group that contains four teams with top-ranked duo Switzerland and Kosovo paired together again after squaring off in the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Pre-Qualifiers Third Round. They both start their campaigns at home with a chance to get off to the perfect start before heading on the road.
Azerbaijan make their debut in the Pre-Qualifiers as the lowest ranked competing nations at 118 in the world. Their last competitive senior action concluded with a fourth place finish at the European Championship for Small Countries, and they are set to hand a debut to one of Zach LeDay or Donta Hall for additional firepower.
Meanwhile, Ireland will be out to punch above their ranking with key games coming up in the first window as they look to back up their showing in the Third Round of EuroBasket Pre-Qualifiers last summer when they defeated Luxembourg twice before finishing second to Croatia.
Watch out for: Taiwo Badmus (IRL), Zach LeDay (AZE), Juan De la Fuente (SUI), Dardan Berisha (KOS)
| WORLD RANK |
COUNTRY | ZONE RANK |
CURRENT POINTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63. |  Switzerland |
33. | 172.1 |
| 77. |  Kosovo |
36. | 121.1 |
| 85. |  Ireland |
39. | 113.1 |
| 118. |  Azerbaijan |
45. | 66.7 |
0/6 games played
Schedule:
February 22 – Romania v Luxembourg – 18:00 CET
February 25 – Luxembourg v Norway – 17:00 CET
Romania and Luxembourg meet in the Pre-Qualifiers First Round, just as they did in the equivalent phase on the road to FIBA EuroBasket 2025. It’s double duty for Luxembourg in the first window with the likes of Clancy Rugg, Alex Laurent and Ben Kovac set to lead the way again as they look to defy the rankings.
The action starts in Cluj-Napoca with Romania looking to use all of their experience in navigating the group. They came unstuck against Slovakia in missing out on the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers, and will be keen to avoid an early slip up on this occasion.
Norway had a big win over Bulgaria last summer before costly road defeats ultimately proved their downfall. Harald Frey averaged 20.2 points per game across 13 appearances in the Pre-Qualifiers in total; landing a move to Basketball Champions League winners Telekom Baskets Bonn and will continue to be an offensive focal point.
Watch out for: Clancy Rugg (LUX), Patrick Richard (ROU), Harald Frey (NOR)
| WORLD RANK |
COUNTRY | ZONE RANK |
CURRENT POINTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61. |  Romania |
32. | 180.5 |
| 75. |  Norway |
35. | 122.2 |
| 82. |  Luxembourg |
37. | 115.4 |
0/6 games played
Schedule:
February 22 – Austria v Armenia – 19:15 CET
February 25 – Armenia v Albania – 15:00 CET
Group C (or AAA if you like) features Armenia making their return to the qualification process after winning the European Championship for Small Countries title in 2022. Chris Jones dominated as MVP – including 41 points in the Final – and is set to remain a key leader as they look to spring a surprise in the group.
Austria will be considered favorites to make it through, but will be keen to bounce back on a disappointing campaign in the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Pre-Qualifiers. They host Armenia on the opening night with the chance to set the tone and state their intentions going forward.
Meanwhile, Albania remain just inside the world’s top-100 after four successive defeats last summer. During the last cycle of the World Cup European Pre-Qualifiers, they bowed out in the First Round with a 1-5 record, and they have a youthful squad hoping to make a name for themselves.
Watch out for: Chris Jones (ARM), Rasid Mahalbasic (AUT), Rei Pullazi (ALB)
| WORLD RANK |
COUNTRY | ZONE RANK |
CURRENT POINTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 65. |  Austria |
34. | 161.7 |
| 83. |  Armenia |
38. | 115.2 |
| 99. |  Albania |
43. | 89.9 |
It’s a long road from the Pre-Qualifiers to the World Cup – but while it’s a difficult task to qualify, it’s not an impossible one, as we broke down, here.
FIBA