Israel Advances to Second Round of 2027 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers Amid Tough Competition

The Israeli national basketball team secured advancement to the second round of the 2027 FIBA World Cup qualifiers after finishing the first group stage with a 6-4 record. Despite the progress, Israel’s chances of qualifying for the World Cup itself are becoming increasingly slim following a recent loss to Croatia. The first stage concluded with Croatia and Germany leading the group at 1-5, Israel third at 4-2, and Cyprus last at 6-0.

In the next phase, Israel will carry over its record and face three new opponents from a parallel group consisting of Latvia, Poland, and the Netherlands. Each team will play two games against each new opponent, with the top three teams from the combined group qualifying for the World Cup. The second round will begin in August 2026 and continue through November 2026 and March 2027, ahead of the tournament scheduled to start in Qatar on August 27, 2027.

Israel’s upcoming rivals include Poland, ranked 19th globally and 13th in Europe by FIBA, with a history of two World Cup appearances and recent strong performances in European championships. Latvia, ranked 13th globally and 8th in Europe, made a notable run to the quarterfinals in the 2023 World Cup. The Netherlands, ranked 51st globally and 27th in Europe, previously qualified for the World Cup in 1986 but has struggled in recent European competitions.

Historically, Israel has qualified for the World Cup only twice, in 1954 and 1986, and has missed the last nine tournaments. The team has set Qatar 2027 as a key target for qualification. The World Cup will feature 32 teams, including 12 from Europe, 8 from Asia/Oceania, 7 from the Americas, and 5 from Africa.

Israel’s path forward is challenging, with every remaining game critical due to the carryover of records and the competitive nature of the second stage. The team’s performance in the upcoming windows will determine its fate in reaching the World Cup for the first time in over three decades.