Doha – February 28, 2026:
The Qatar Basketball Federation announces the postponement of its scheduled match against the Saudi national team in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers – Second Window. The game was originally set for 10:00 p.m. on Monday, March 2, 2026, at Lusail Multipurpose Hall.

This decision follows an official notification from the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) regarding the postponement of all Group C and Group D fixtures in the Asian Qualifiers for the 2027 World Cup, which were due to be played next Monday. The move comes in light of current regional developments and in the interest of ensuring the safety of players, coaching staff, officials, and all participants.

The postponed match will be rescheduled at the start of the Third Window in June, with the updated fixture list to be announced later.

According to FIBA’s statement, all Group C and Group D matches scheduled for next Monday have been postponed. These include Group C games: Iran vs. Syria and Iraq vs. Jordan, as well as Group D games: Lebanon vs. India and Qatar vs. Saudi Arabia.

The Qatar Basketball Federation had been closely monitoring the situation in recent hours, awaiting FIBA’s decision on whether the match would proceed as planned or be postponed. Meanwhile, the coaching staff and players remained focused on technical and tactical preparations, maintaining full readiness for any changes to the schedule.

The anticipation of this decision followed Qatar’s strong start to the Second Window, with an important victory over India (99–73) in a game that drew an impressive crowd.

Group D remains highly competitive, with Lebanon, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia tied at the top with 5 points each, while India sits fourth with 3 points. This highlights the significance of the postponed match in shaping group standings and qualification prospects for the next round.

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 consists of Iran, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq; while Group D brings together Qatar, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and India. The top three teams from each group advance to the second round, where they will be split into two new groups. From there, three teams from each group, along with the best fourth-placed team, will qualify for the World Cup finals.

The qualifiers are structured across six windows spanning more than 18 months, beginning in November 2025 and concluding in March 2027.