MUNICH (FIBA EuroBasket 2021 Pre-Qualifiers) - It may be a little under four years away, but for nine European nations, the road to FIBA EuroBasket 2021 begins this week.

What are the Pre-Qualifiers?
The FIBA EuroBasket 2021 Pre-Qualifiers are open to any of the European basketball federations, who did not qualify for the FIBA World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers. They will take place in the same international windows as the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifiers.

How do they work?
The nine competing teams are broken into three groups. During the November 2017, February 2018 and June/July 2018 windows, each team will play the other two in each group, both home and away. The top team from each group, and the best finishing second-placed teams move into the Pre-Qualifiers Second Round.

What is the Pre-Qualifiers Second Round?
The Pre-Qualifiers Second Round involves the four teams who advance from the First Round, where they will be joined by the bottom-placed team from each of the eight FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers. They will be divided into four groups, with the winner of each group advancing to the FIBA EuroBasket Qualifiers. These games will be played in the September 2018, November 2018 and February 2019 windows.

TEAMS

ALBANIA

Current FIBA World Ranking: 80
Previous FIBA Competition: FIBA Basketball World Cup European Pre-Qualifiers
Result: Won 0, lost 4
FIBA EuroBasket Participation: 1947, 1957
Best Finish: 14th (1957) 

ARMENIA

Current FIBA World Ranking: 95
Previous FIBA Competition: FIBA Basketball World Cup European Pre-Qualifiers
Result: Won 3, lost 3
FIBA EuroBasket History: This will be their first attempt to qualify

CYPRUS

Current FIBA World Ranking: 79
Previous FIBA competition: FIBA EuroBasket 2017 Qualifiers
Result: Won 2, lost 4
FIBA EuroBasket History: Have never made it beyond qualification

DENMARK

Current FIBA World Ranking: 72
Previous FIBA Competition: FIBA EuroBasket 2017 Qualifiers
Result: Won 2, lost 4
FIBA EuroBasket History: 1951, 1953, 1955 
Best Finish: 14th (1951) 

LUXEMBOURG

Current FIBA World Ranking: 71
Previous FIBA Competition: FIBA EuroBasket 2017 Qualifiers
Result: Won 1, lost 5
FIBA EuroBasket History: 1951, 1955 
Best Finish: 15th (1951) 

THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA

Current FIBA World Ranking: 38
Previous FIBA Competition: FIBA Basketball World Cup European Pre-Qualifiers
Result: Won 1, lost 3
FIBA EuroBasket History: 1999, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015
Best Finish: 4th (2011)

PORTUGAL

Current FIBA World Ranking: 58
Previous FIBA Competition: FIBA Basketball World Cup European Pre-Qualifiers
Result: Won 1, lost 3
FIBA EuroBasket History: 1951, 2007, 2011
Best Finish: 9th (2007)

SLOVAK REPUBLIC

Current FIBA World Ranking: 63
Previous FIBA competition: FIBA Basketball World Cup European Pre-Qualifiers
Result: Won 1, lost 5
FIBA EuroBasket history: Have never made it beyond qualification

SWITZERLAND

Current FIBA World Ranking: 62
Previous FIBA competition: FIBA EuroBasket 2017 Qualifiers
Result: Won 1, lost 5
FIBA EuroBasket history: 1935, 1946, 1951, 1953, 1955 
Best Finish: 4th (1935)

FIBA