Doha – June 12, 2026:
The Qatar men’s national basketball team has officially launched its overseas training camp in Antalya, Turkey, running from June 11 to 20, 2026. This camp marks a crucial stage in the technical and physical preparation program set by the Qatar Basketball Federation, as the team continues its journey in the Asian and Oceanian qualifiers for the FIBA Basketball World Cup – Qatar 2027.

Organized to provide the best possible conditions ahead of upcoming official commitments, the camp comes at a decisive moment with the team approaching key matches in the second and third qualification windows. These fixtures represent pivotal milestones in Qatar’s bid to secure a historic place at the World Cup finals, which the country will host for the first time in 2027.

The delegation to Turkey is headed by Mr. Nasser Ajlan Al-Kaabi, Board Member of the Qatar Basketball Federation. The technical program is led by Turkish Head Coach Hakan Demir, who aims to maximize the camp’s benefits by raising players’ physical and technical readiness, strengthening team cohesion, and refining tactical strategies for the upcoming qualifiers.

Daily intensive training sessions focus on improving fitness levels, enhancing collective performance, and applying tactical schemes on both offense and defense. The camp also allows the coaching staff to evaluate player readiness and determine the best options before entering official competitions.

The Qatari team continues preparations with high ambitions to build on its positive results in earlier qualification stages, where it showcased strong performances that highlighted the progress of Qatari basketball and its ability to compete against Asia’s top teams.

Qatar began its qualifiers with a narrow 74–75 loss to Lebanon in Doha, decided by just one point. The team responded with a historic 86–83 victory over Lebanon in Beirut, followed by a commanding 99–73 win against India in Doha, reinforcing its position as a contender for advancement and strengthening its standing in Group D.

Following the Antalya camp, Qatar is scheduled to play two friendly matches against Tunisia on June 23 and 25, 2026, at Al Gharafa Hall. These games form part of the preparation program, offering players additional opportunities for competitive exposure ahead of official fixtures.

The team will then face a series of crucial matches: against Saudi Arabia on June 29 in Doha (a rescheduled game from the second window), against India on July 2 in Ahmedabad, and again against Saudi Arabia on July 5 in Jeddah. These encounters are expected to directly impact group standings and qualification prospects.

Group D is among the toughest in the current qualifiers, with Qatar, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia tied at the top with five points each, while India sits fourth with three points. This balance ensures fierce competition in the upcoming rounds.

The 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 Taiwan; Group C comprises Iran, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq; while Group D brings together Qatar, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and India.

According to FIBA’s qualification system, the top three teams from each group advance to the second round, where they are redistributed into two new groups. From there, three teams from each group qualify directly for the World Cup, along with the best fourth-placed team overall.

The qualifiers span six windows from November 2025 to March 2027, forming a demanding journey toward the historic FIBA Basketball World Cup, hosted by Qatar from August 27 to September 12, 2027.