Poland Dominates Israel in World Cup Qualifier Amid Israeli Team Struggles

Israel's national basketball team suffered a heavy 106-86 defeat to Poland on August 27, 2026, in the FIBA World Cup 2027 qualifiers, effectively ending their realistic chances of advancing to the tournament. The loss highlighted Israel's struggles, particularly due to the absence of their NBA star, Deni Avdija, which Polish media emphasized as a key factor in Israel's inability to challenge the Polish team.

Polish sports outlets celebrated the victory, describing Israel as finishing "on their knees" and praising Poland's near-certain qualification. Reports noted that Poland's coach Igor Milicic inspired his team, with standout performances from players like Ponitka, while Israel lacked effective responses. The Polish defense was credited with completely shutting down Israeli player Yam Madar, leaving only Roman Sorkin to perform well for Israel.

Further commentary pointed out that Israel was missing two NBA players, Avdija and Ben Sherf, which weakened their lineup significantly. Despite Israel's attempts to reduce the deficit in the final quarter, they never came close to threatening the Polish lead. The defeat was seen as a continuation of Israel's disappointing campaign in the qualifiers, while Poland moved closer to securing a spot in the World Cup.

The game took place in Poland, and the media coverage there was notably dismissive of Israel's efforts, underscoring the gap between the teams in this qualifying round.