Türkiye currently leads the FIBA Smart Power Rankings for the 2027 Basketball World Cup European Qualifiers. This comes after the national team became the first European side to secure a spot in the upcoming tournament scheduled for next year in Qatar.
Türkiye’s Impressive Performance
In the recently published edition of the FIBA rankings—following the first two games of the Second Round—Türkiye maintained its top position with an impeccable unbeaten record of 8-0. The national team has successfully secured its place in the World Cup with four qualifying matches still left to play. Their dominance in the qualifiers was notably displayed in their latest games, where they achieved convincing victories against Lithuania, winning 94-66, and Iceland, with a score of 110-73. Remarkably, these wins came without the contribution of NBA star Alperen Sengun, showcasing the team’s remarkable depth, as highlighted by FIBA.
Current Rankings and Competitors
In the latest rankings, France holds the second spot with a strong 7-1 record, while reigning world champions Germany have climbed to third place, also featuring a record of 7-1 after a significant win against Poland, marking Poland’s inaugural defeat in the qualifiers. Serbia experienced a drop to fourth place despite winning both of their recent games; they now stand at 6-2. Meanwhile, Croatia has moved up to fifth with a 7-1 record, bolstered by a narrow 101-99 win over the Netherlands. FIBA noted Croatia’s historic offensive performance, as they have become the first team in World Cup qualifying history to score 100 points in four consecutive games.
Poland has seen a decline, falling to sixth after their first loss. Ukraine, on the other hand, made notable gains, climbing three spots to seventh with a record of 6-2 following two recent victories. Spain has dropped to eighth place, experiencing losses in both their latest matches, while Italy and Finland round out the top ten with 5-3 records.
Implications for Upcoming Qualifiers
In the broader context of the rankings, Georgia achieved the most significant leap, rising five positions to 11th after going 2-0 in their recent window, improving to a record of 5-3. FIBA commended Georgia’s balanced team play as a crucial factor in their success. Following Georgia are Greece, Lithuania, Portugal, and Slovenia—where Slovenia climbed five spots after defeating Hungary while significantly closing a substantial point deficit in a match against France.
The next window for the European qualifiers is scheduled for November 2026, followed by the final window in February and March 2027. The current format includes 24 teams organized into four groups, with the top three from each group securing their spots for the World Cup in Qatar.
It’s essential to note that the FIBA Smart Power Rankings are subjective and do not represent any official ranking system, but they paint a compelling picture of team performances in the lead-up to the World Cup. The anticipated tournament will take place in Qatar from August 27 to September 12, 2027. With the performance of teams evolving during each qualifying window, the competition remains fierce as nations vie for the coveted spots at the significant international event.