DOHA: The FIBA Asia Regional Office sent an official letter to Mohammed bin Saad Al-Mughaisib, President of the Qatar Basketball Federation, and Saadoun Sabah Al-Kuwari, Secretary General of the Qatar Basketball Federation, expressing its deep appreciation for the exceptional cooperation and support provided by the Qatari federation during the Asian qualifying window for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
The letter followed the unforeseen developments in the region, which led FIBA to postpone all matches in Groups C and D of the qualifiers, including Qatar’s scheduled match against Saudi Arabia on March 2, 2026, at the Lusail Multipurpose Hall, as well as the Group D matches between Lebanon and India, and the Group C matches between Iran and Syria, and Iraq and Jordan.
The postponed matches were not included in the FIBA Asia Regional Office’s letter of thanks to the Qatar Basketball Federation.
Hagop Khajirian, Executive Director of FIBA Asia, praised the Qatar Basketball Federation for facilitating the departure of the Indian national team, FIBA officials, and referees, ensuring their safe return home.
He emphasized that this cooperation reflects the spirit of solidarity and responsibility demonstrated by national federations in the region and highlights the high level of professionalism and organization displayed by the Qatar Basketball Federation in managing regional tournaments, especially under exceptional circumstances.
It is worth noting that the Qatari national team opened its campaign in the second window of the qualifiers with a significant 99-73 victory over India in a match that drew a large crowd. The match against Saudi Arabia in Group D was postponed and is now scheduled to take place at the beginning of the third window in June.
The regional office concluded its statement by expressing its deep appreciation to the Qatar Basketball Federation and its anticipation of continued cooperation to develop basketball in Asia and ensure the resumption of competitions and sporting activities in a safe and professional environment.
Group D is witnessing fierce competition, with Lebanon, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia sharing the lead with 5 points each, while India remains in fourth place with 3 points. Sixteen teams are participating in the Asian and Oceanian qualifiers, divided into four groups:
Group A: Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, and Guam.
Group B: Japan, China, South Korea, and Taiwan.
Group C: Iran, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq.
Group D: Qatar, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and India.
The top three teams from each group advance to the second round, where they are divided into two new groups. The top three teams from each of these groups qualify for the World Cup finals, along with the best fourth-placed team.
The qualifiers are organized across six time windows spanning more than a year and a half, from November 2025 to March 2027, to ensure a schedule that allows teams ample time to prepare and maintain peak performance.
