Qatar Basketball Team Steps Up Preparations with Turkey Camp Ahead of FIBA World Cup 2027 Qualifiers

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February 9, 2026
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9-February-2026

Qatar Basketball Team Steps Up Preparations with Turkey Camp Ahead of FIBA World Cup 2027 Qualifiers

Doha – The Qatar men’s national basketball team has stepped up preparations for the second window of the Asian qualifiers for the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027 by launching an overseas training camp in Turkey.

The camp, which will run for several days, provides an ideal setting for intensive technical, physical, and practical work, as the team aims to reach peak readiness ahead of the resumption of official competition.

The Qatari delegation is headed by Mr. Saadoun Sabah Al-Kuwari, Secretary General of the Qatar Basketball Federation and Director of National Teams.

The Turkey camp comes on the back of a strong showing in the first qualification window, highlighted by a historic away victory over Lebanon national basketball team (86–83) in Beirut during the second round, after Qatar narrowly lost the opening game in Doha (74–75).

Following the opening window, Qatar occupy second place in Group D with three points, level with Lebanon and one point behind group leaders Saudi Arabia national basketball team, who have four points. India national basketball team sit fourth with two points, making the upcoming matches decisive in shaping the race for qualification.

The technical staff, led by Turkish head coach Hakan Demir, opted to hold the camp in Turkey to allow for high-intensity daily training sessions. The programme includes physical conditioning, technical and tactical drills, fitness and endurance work, and exercises aimed at strengthening team cohesion across all positions.

Qatar will face two crucial fixtures in the second window: against India on Friday, February 27, 2026, followed by a clash with Saudi Arabia on Monday, March 2, 2026. Both matches will be staged at the Lusail Multipurpose Hall.

The Asian and Oceanian qualifiers feature 16 teams divided into four groups. Group A includes Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, and Guam; Group B features Japan, China, South Korea, and Chinese Taipei; Group C comprises Iran, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq; while Group D brings together Qatar, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and India. The top three teams from each group will advance to the second round, where they will be redistributed into two groups. From there, three teams from each group, along with the best fourth-placed team, will qualify for the World Cup finals.

The qualification campaign spans six windows over more than 18 months, running from November 2025 to March 2027, allowing teams sufficient preparation time between official windows.