The Turkish Men’s National Basketball Team returns to competitive action on Friday, hosting Lithuania in Istanbul for their opening fixture of the FIBA 2027 Basketball World Cup European Qualifiers Second Round. Tip-off at the Turkcell Basketball Development Centre is scheduled for 21:00 local time, marking a critical opening test as the squad looks to build on an undefeated run through the initial qualification phase.
Carrying Momentum from an Unbeaten First Round
Head into Friday’s contest with a clean slate from the opening stage, where the team swept Group C. According to tournament reports, the squad recorded six wins from six matches, concluding the first phase with a 95-72 victory over Switzerland in Istanbul. That flawless run placed them at the top of their group standings, affording them a vital psychological and logistical edge heading into the second phase.
The second round places Türkiye in Group J alongside Lithuania, Iceland, Italy, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, with records from the first phase carrying over. Following Friday’s clash in Istanbul, the team travels north for their next fixture, facing Iceland away at Laugardalshöll Arena in Reykjavik on Monday, August 31, at 22:30 TRT.
Historical Matchup and Head-to-Head Record
Friday’s encounter represents the 13th official meeting between the two national sides in official competitions. Historical records show that Lithuania holds the upper hand in the rivalry, claiming nine victories to Türkiye’s three across 12 previous official matches. The Turkish side’s last official win against Lithuania dates back to the 2009 European Championship, where they secured an 84-76 decision. Their most recent official fixture came at the 2014 FIBA World Cup, an encounter that ended in a 73-61 victory for Lithuania.
Preparation and Roster Adjustments
In the lead-up to the window, the team completed their final preparations at the Turkish Airlines DBB Super Cup in Germany. Open records indicate the squad opened that preparation tournament with a narrow 95-94 defeat to Croatia on August 21 before bouncing back to defeat Czechia 99-84, securing a third-place finish in the event.
For the August qualification window, the coaching staff named a 17-player candidate roster. The selected group features Darius Karutasu, Ercan Osmani, Erkan Yılmaz, Kenan Sipahi, Malachi Flynn, Berk İbrahim Uğurlu, Furkan Korkmaz, Metecan Birsen, Onuralp Bitim, Sertaç Şanlı, Şehmus Hazer, Yiğitcan Saybir, Yiğit Arslan, Cedi Osman, Adem Bona, Ömer Faruk Yurtseven, and Ömer Kutluay. Notable absences from this window’s squad include Alperen Şengün and Tarık Biberovic.
Path to the 2027 FIBA World Cup
The upcoming fixtures—stretching across windows in August-September 2027, November-December 2027, and February-March 2027—will ultimately determine which European nations secure passage to the global showcase. The FIBA 2027 Basketball World Cup is scheduled to run from August 27 to September 12, 2027, hosted by Qatar. At the conclusion of the second-round home-and-away schedule, the top three teams in Group J will earn direct qualification for the tournament.
