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Turkey beat Iceland 110-73 to qualify for the World Cup
Turkey's men's national basketball team defeated Iceland 110-73 in the second-round J Group match of the FIBA 2027 World Cup European Qualifiers in Reykjavik. Turkey became the first team to qualify for the World Cup after winning all eight of its qualifying games and will make its sixth appearance in the tournament.
Turkey's men's national basketball team secured qualification for the World Cup by defeating Iceland 110-73 away from home in its second match in Group J of the second round of the FIBA 2027 World Cup European Qualifiers.
Turkey finished the first quarter with a 33-14 lead in the game played at the Laugardalshöll Sports Center in Reykjavik, Iceland. Captain Cedi Osman and Malachi Flynn each scored 24 points in the period.
The national team maintained its dominance in the second quarter, with Onuralp Bitim contributing 15 points, and went into halftime leading 60-37. Turkey also ended the third quarter ahead, 80-56, before completing the game with a 110-73 victory.
First team to qualify for the World Cup
Turkey became the first team to qualify for the FIBA 2027 World Cup after winning all eight of its qualifying games. The national team finished the first round at the top of the standings with a 6-0 record and continued its successful run in the second round, where teams carry over their wins and losses from the first round.
Turkey's men's national basketball team maintained its lead by winning its first two matches in the second round of the qualifiers. The national team will make its sixth appearance at the World Cup, which will be held in Doha, the capital of Qatar, in 2027.
Only unbeaten team in the European Qualifiers
Turkey became the only unbeaten team in the European Qualifiers after the first two matches of the second round. Following Poland's first defeat in Group K, Turkey became the only team in the tournament yet to suffer a loss.
Turkey will face Italy away from home on November 26 in the qualifiers. The national team will host Iceland on November 29.
Messages of congratulations from Bak and Duran
Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak congratulated the players in a post after the national team secured qualification for the World Cup. Bak wrote, “We are at the World Cup. Well done, 12 Giant Men!”
Presidential Communications Director Burhanettin Duran also celebrated Turkey's qualification for the World Cup after winning all eight of its qualifying games. Duran congratulated the national team's technical staff and everyone who contributed, and said he believed the team would represent Turkey strongly at the World Cup.
Türkoğlu: We also secured our World Cup ticket
Hidayet Türkoğlu, president of the Turkish Basketball Federation, said after the game that they learned in the locker room that Turkey had secured its World Cup ticket. Türkoğlu said they were proud of the players, who had won all eight games and remained unbeaten, and congratulated the technical staff and athletes.
Türkoğlu said the national team's upward trajectory was continuing. He added that although Turkey had secured its World Cup ticket, the games in November and February remained important for improving the team's basketball, building confidence and strengthening its position in the standings.
Türkoğlu said the national team's jersey represents the country and that every victory makes millions of people happy. He said he expected the team to continue its success at the tournament in Qatar with a full-strength squad.
Türkoğlu said Turkey had maintained control throughout the game and thanked the players, technical staff, administrators, sponsors, supporters and members of the media. The federation president said earning the right to go to the World Cup was valuable despite the team still having four matches ahead of it.
Ataman: We secured a very clear victory
Turkey's men's national basketball team head coach Ergin Ataman said they secured a convincing victory over Iceland after putting on a very strong performance. Ataman said they had prepared seriously for the game, noting that Iceland had previously beaten Italy away from home and Lithuania at home, while Turkey had lost at the same venue two years earlier.
Ataman said the players were effective on defense and shared the ball in attack. He added that his team remained unbeaten and was the only team in the European Qualifiers yet to suffer a defeat.
Ataman said the players who came off the bench also made important contributions. Praising Onuralp Bitim's performance, the head coach said Kenan Sipahi, Yiğitcan Saybir and the other players contributed to the victory through their efforts.
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