The qualifiers for FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 will begin later this November.

The Indian men’s basketball team have been drawn in Pool D alongside hosts Qatar in the Asian Qualifiers for FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027. The draw for the qualifiers was held on May 13 in Doha. Apart from India and Qatar, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia are the other two teams in Group D.

The qualifiers for the Asia-Oceania region will begin on November 2025 and will end on March 2027, with seven nations and Qatar—who have earned an automatic qualification by virtue of being the hosts—advancing to the tournament proper.

India earned a place in the draw for FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 by being one of the 16 Asian teams that secured qualification for the FIBA Asia Cup 2025.

The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 will be held in Qatar from August 27 to September 12, 2027. A total of 32 teams—5 from Africa, 7 each from Americas and Asia-Oceania, 12 European and hosts Qatar—will participate in the tournament finals.

The Asian qualifiers will have 16 teams vying for 7 spots in two-round qualification structure.

The first round will see teams divided into four groups of four teams each, with each team slated to meet the other group members twice each in home-and-away format. Top three teams from each group [barring Group d] will advance to the next round.

Unlike other groups, only two teams from Group D will progress given Qatar are guaranteed a place in the main tournament.

The second round will see two groups [Group E & Group F] of six teams each, with results from the previous round set to be carried over. In the second round, teams will only play the teams in their groups, that they haven’t already faced in the opening round. Eventually, the top three teams from each group and the fourth-best placed side will qualify along with Qatar.

Starting from November 2025, the qualifying matches will be held across six dedicated windows.

India has never qualified for the FIBA Basketball World Cup, so advancing from Group D would be a historic achievement. Also, with the home-and-away format international basketball will return to Indian soil, giving fans another opportunity to watch their national team in action.

Courtesy – Khel Now