FIBA postpones four World Cup qualifiers amid Middle East conflict escalation
4 games pushed back due to conflict in Middle East
The ongoing Middle East conflict has forced FIBA to make significant scheduling changes to its international competition calendar. Four crucial World Cup qualifying matches have been postponed as the security situation in the region continues to deteriorate following recent military strikes.
Groups C and D matches rescheduled for safety reasons
The affected matches include Iran-Syria and Iraq-Jordan from Group C, alongside Lebanon-India and Qatar-Saudi Arabia encounters from Group D. All four games were initially set to take place this Monday as part of the 2027 World Cup qualifying campaign in the Asia zone.
« Given the evolving situation in the region, FIBA has decided to postpone all remaining Group C and D matches during this window, » the international governing body stated in its official communication. The federation emphasized its commitment to participant safety, adding: « FIBA remains in close contact with the relevant national federations and is taking the necessary measures to ensure the safety of teams, officials and personnel involved in these matches. »
Matches moved to late June window
The International Federation confirmed that these postponed encounters have been rescheduled for the next qualifying window, « scheduled for late June. » Originally, this window was set to begin on July 2nd for the affected teams. However, FIBA has not yet released the exact dates for these rescheduled matches.
Despite the timing changes, the federation assured that all four postponed matches « will take place in the same venues » as originally planned for Monday’s schedule. This decision maintains the home advantage considerations that were part of the initial fixture planning.
The postponements come in the wake of strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran, followed by Iranian retaliation against several countries in the region. The basketball world has felt the broader impact of this escalating conflict, with other competitions also affected. The scheduled match between Hapoel Tel Aviv and Paris Basketball on Tuesday has been postponed, while the ANGT Abu Dhabi tournament, which began on Friday, was interrupted during Saturday’s proceedings.
These developments highlight the challenging circumstances facing international basketball operations in regions affected by geopolitical tensions, as FIBA continues to prioritize the safety and security of all participants while maintaining the integrity of its qualification processes.
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