Everything you need to know about the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Pre-Qualifiers

MUNICH (Germany) - The journey towards FIBA EuroBasket 2025 starts already now, with 10 national teams involved in the First Round of the Pre-Qualifiers.

With only four spots in the Second Round up for grabs, every game in the First Round – to be played across three windows in November 2021, February 2022 and June-July 2022 – will carry great significance in determining who goes through.

The three group winners and the best-ranked second-placed team from the First Round will be joined in the next stage by eight teams eliminated from the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 European Qualifiers.

The Second Round will offer a direct path to the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers proper to four teams, with all other national teams from the first two stages of the Pre-Qualifiers competing in the Third Round for four additional spots.

Group A

0/12 games played

		GAMES				GAME POINTS					POINTS
#	Team	P	W	L	%	For	Agt	+/-	FA	AA
1	Cyprus	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2	Austria	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	Switzerland	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	Ireland	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Thursday, November 25
Cyprus v Ireland - 18:00 CET
Austria v Switzerland - 20:15 CET

Sunday, November 28
Switzerland v Cyprus - 17:00 CET
Ireland v Austria - 18:00 CET

Switzerland missed out on a place in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 European Qualifiers after finishing as the inferior side in a three-way tie with North Macedonia and Slovakia. This was despite claiming a memorable win over Serbia in the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 Qualifiers, though they did lose all five other games.

Austria are ranked just one spot behind Switzerland, in 61st place, in the FIBA World Ranking Presented by Nike and return to action with a mission to complete after withdrawing from the Second Round of the World Cup Pre-Qualifiers.

Cyprus defeated Albania in their 1-5 record in the World Cup Pre-Qualifiers, while Ireland will be out to make some noise having triumphed in the FIBA European Championship for Small Countries in Dublin this past summer.

Watch out for: Arnaud Cotture will be expected to play a key role for Switzerland with the added experience of Roberto Kovac amongst their squad. Meanwhile, Austria have plenty of experience of their own to choose from, including versatile center Rasid Mahalbasic.

Ireland's duo of Jordan Blount and John Carroll both impressed in their European Championship for Small Countries victory and will look to raise their levels against tougher opposition. Simon Michail returns as captain to lead the effort for Cyprus.

Group B

0/6 games played

		GAMES				GAME POINTS					POINTS
#	Team	P	W	L	%	For	Agt	+/-	FA	AA
1	Albania	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2	Luxembourg	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	Romania	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Thursday, November 25
Albania v Luxembourg - 18:00 CET

Sunday, November 28
Luxembourg v Romania - 17:00 CET

Romania are the highest-ranked team (at 54) in the First Round of the Pre-Qualifiers and expectations will be high to ensure they continue in the process towards the next EuroBasket. They qualified as co-hosts for the 2017 edition, but finished with a 0-5 record from their games in Cluj-Napoca.

Luxembourg pushed Portugal close in the Second Round of the World Cup Pre-Qualifiers after Austria's withdrawal handed them a reprieve, but they failed to pick up a win. Albania enjoyed a solitary win over Cyprus back in February, 2020 as they were unable to make it past the First Round of the Pre-Qualifiers.

Watch out for: Clancy Rugg will be expected to play another leading role for Luxembourg with the 30-year-old joined by Derek Wilson in the squad as they open their campaign with double duty.

Lucas Tohatan continues to grow in his role on the national team with Romania. Still only 22-year-old, the point guard is gaining valuable experience both at club and international level. Meanwhile, Dallas Moore is included for Albania having made a solid start to the season in Serbia.

Group C

0/6 games played

		GAMES				GAME POINTS					POINTS
#	Team	P	W	L	%	For	Agt	+/-	FA	AA
1	Norway	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2	Kosovo	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	Denmark	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Thursday, November 25
Norway v Kosovo - 19:00 CET

Sunday, November 28
Kosovo v Denmark - 19:00 CET

Denmark narrowly missed out on FIBA EuroBasket 2022 in dramatic fashion, with a last-gasp defeat against Lithuania ending their hopes. The team ranked number 55 in the world then followed that with a poor showing in the Pre-Qualifiers for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 which means they start their quest for Europe's flagship event even earlier.

Kosovo had started 2-0 in their World Cup Pre-Qualifiers campaign, but lost four on the bounce to curtail their efforts. The group is completed by Norway, who are back on the main European stage having been runners-up at the FIBA European Championship for Small Countries in 2018.

Watch out for: Veteran guard Dardan Berisha answers the call for Kosovo once more having led the team in scoring during the World Cup Pre-Qualifiers with 15.5 points per game in four appearances. Denmark also have experience on their roster, whilst including 24-year-old Asbjorn Midtgaard with the center having impressed in FIBA Europe Cup action for ZZ Leiden.

Stian Mjos is the leading scorer in the domestic league in Norway with 22.5 points per game, while Harald Frey is enjoying a solid second season in Spain's second tier with the back-court duo reuniting for the national team, hoping to spur Norway to success.

 

FIBA