MUNICH (Germany) - This summer's FIBA EuroBasket 2025 will see a few teams make a triumphant return to the continent's flagship event. And one nation will be playing in the competition for the first time.
The list of five teams includes two of the four co-hosting nations - Cyprus and Latvia - while Portugal and Sweden both ended long EuroBasket droughts, and Iceland are also back.
Cyprus
Appearance: 1st Last participation: N/A Best finish: N/A
Cyprus will be making their EuroBasket debut as co-hosts of the tournament. The islanders are the record nine-time champions of the Games of the Small States of Europe and now will have a chance to experience the continent's biggest competition. The Cypriots will be cheering wildly for Christophoros Livadiotis' team this summer.
Iceland
Appearance: 3rd Last participation: 2017 Best finish: 24th place (2015, 2017)
Iceland have been producing more talent playing professionally across the continent and become more and more competitive. They reached the Final Round for the first time in 2015 and then went back-to-back in 2017. After missing out in 2022, Iceland showed their quality in these Qualifiers by beating both Türkiye and Italy. Next up on their to-do list is getting their first win at the Final Round - something they couldn't achieve in 2015 and 2017.
Latvia
Appearances: 15th Last participation: 2017 Best finish: Champion 1935
Latvia missed the last EuroBasket in 2022, which snapped a streak of nine straight appearances. Luca Banchi's team has been nearly unstoppable since then. Despite not needing to qualify as 2025 co-hosts, Latvia won all six of their EuroBasket Qualifiers games, becoming the first team to do so in the new qualifying format. Those six victories extended their win streak in qualifying games to 17 games and 21 of 22 including the European Qualifiers for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023. And Latvia went 6-2 in their debut in the World Cup and finished fifth overall.
Portugal
Total appearances: 4th Last participation: 2011 Best finish: 9th place (2007)
Portugal ended a 14-year EuroBasket drought as they return to the Final Round for the first time since 2011. The advancement came less than two weeks after Portugal's women's national team earned their first ever ticket to FIBA Women's EuroBasket. Portugal's qualifying campaign was highlighted by a shocking victory over Slovenia.
Sweden
Appearances: 11th Last participation: 2013 Best finish: 11th place (1995)
We haven't seen Sweden on the big stage for over a decade, but the wait is over. The Swedes pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the Qualifiers by shocking world champs Germany. They also beat Montenegro and will be playing on the continental stage for the first time since 2013. Since 1995, the Swedes only hosted the 2003 edition and competed in 2013.
FIBA