FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers:
Iran’s Group E opener moved to Philippines amid regional tensions
Iran’s men’s national basketball team will play its designated home fixture against New Zealand in Pasay, the Philippines, when the second round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers gets underway on August 27.
The decision came after the sport’s international governing body, FIBA, ordered all first-window matches in Group E to be staged in the Filipino city due to regional security concerns following recent military tensions in the Middle East.
Iran was also stripped of home-court advantage in the first round for the same reason, with its designated home games against Iraq, Jordan and Syria relocated to neutral venues in Zouk Mikael, Lebanon, and Amman, Jordan.
The opening window of the second round will also see Iran face the Philippines on August 31 as part of six Group E games to be played over five days in Pasay.
Iran advanced to the second round after defeating Syria twice, either side of an emphatic 67-49 victory over West Asian rival Jordan last week, to finish top of Group C, and will carry over a 6-1 record into Group E, which also features reigning three-time Asia Cup champion Australia, Jordan, and Syria.
Iran will conclude the qualifiers with an away game against Australia on February 28 next year.
The top three teams from each of the two second-round groups, along with the best fourth-placed team, will qualify for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Qatar.