Doha, Qatar: Qatari national team will face Lebanon on Thursday evening at the Lusail Multipurpose Hall in the first round of Group D matches in the Asian qualifiers for the 2027 FIBA ​​Basketball World Cup.

Tomorrow's match is of great importance, as it marks the beginning of Qatar's crucial journey towards qualifying for the World Cup finals, which Qatar will host for the first time in the Middle East, from Aug. 27 to Sep. 12, 2027, with 32 teams participating.

The Qatari national team concluded its preparations this evening for tomorrow's match. They are scheduled to visit the Lebanese national team in Beirut next Sunday at the Nouhad Nawfal Sports and Theater Complex in Beirut, for the second round of matches in Group D, which also includes the Saudi and Indian national teams.

The Asian and Oceanian qualifiers feature 16 teams, divided into four groups. Group A consists of Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, and Guam; Group B includes Japan, China, South Korea, and Taiwan; Group C comprises Iran, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq; and Qatar is in Group D alongside Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and India.

The top three teams from each group qualify for the second round, and the qualified teams are then divided into two new groups.

Three teams from each group qualify for the World Cup finals, in addition to the best fourth-placed team from the two groups.

MENAFN26112025000063011010ID1110402210