Ukraine Men’s National Basketball Team
The Ukrainian men’s national basketball team now knows which teams it will face in the second round of qualifying for the 2027 FIBA World Cup. Their opponents will be Montenegro, Portugal, and Greece. Ukraine enters this stage with a record of four wins and two losses, which secured them second place in their group.
In the final game of the first qualifying round, Ukraine earned a crucial 99–69 victory over Denmark. At the same time, Georgia—despite trailing Spain by 22 points—managed to come back and win 91–89 in overtime. This result left Ukraine in second place in the group, behind only Spain, who topped the standings with five wins and one loss.
Second Stage of Qualifying
In the next phase, the top three teams from Group A—Spain, Ukraine, and Georgia—will merge with the top teams from Group B. Ukraine will now compete against Montenegro, Portugal, and Greece. All results from the first round carry over. Montenegro topped their group with a 4–2 record, while both Portugal and Greece finished at 3–3. Portugal advanced ahead of Greece due to a better head-to-head record.
The second qualifying stage kicks off in November 2026 and wraps up in February 2027. Ukraine’s first matches are scheduled for late August 2026. On August 28, they will host Greece in a nominally home game, followed by an away match against Montenegro on August 31. Ukraine will play each opponent twice—once at home and once away.
Here is the current standings in Ukraine’s group for the final round of qualifying:
- 1. Spain - 5 wins / 1 loss, 11 points
- 2. Ukraine - 4 / 2, 10 points
- 3. Montenegro - 4 / 2, 10 points
- 4. Portugal - 3 / 3, 9 points
- 5. Greece - 3 / 3, 9 points
- 6. Georgia - 3 / 3, 9 points
Ukraine has a strong chance of success, as the top three teams out of the six will earn spots at the 2027 World Cup in Qatar.
Reaching the second qualifying round highlights the team’s progress on the international stage, which could help boost basketball’s popularity in Ukraine.
Given the tough opponents ahead, it’s crucial for Ukraine’s players to deliver their best performances, as the results of this stage could determine their World Cup fate. Following these matches closely will matter not only for fans but also for the growth of sports infrastructure in the country.