LOC Director General Dr. Ahmad Abdulla Al-Buenain tips off a match on the opening day.
Doha, Qatar: The Mini World Cup 2026-2027 tipped off yesterday at Qatar Sports Club, bringing together 32 schools competing under 32 country tags. Organised by the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027 Local Organising Committee (LOC), in collaboration with the Qatar School Sports Federation, the initiative aims to promote basketball among school students and engage younger generations in activities leading up to Qatar’s hosting of the global tournament next year.
The opening day was attended by FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027 Organising Committee Chairman Burton Shipley, LOC Director General Dr. Ahmad Abdulla Al-Buenain, and FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027 Director Predrag Bogosavljev.
Each of the 32 participating schools has selected a country to represent and compete under its name, creating an experience that mirrors the format of the FIBA Basketball World Cup. The initiative allows students to learn about different cultures while taking part in basketball competitions, fostering teamwork, respect and sportsmanship.
The opening day featured four matches, with Almaahad Al Dinee (Qatar) securing a 64–13 victory over Nasser Al Athiya School (Senegal). GEMS American Academy Qatar (USA) defeated Birla Public School (Cameroon) 71–26, while Qatar-Finland International School (Dominican Republic) recorded a 36–26 win over Rajagiri Public School (Greece). In the closest contest of the day, American Academy School (Japan) edged Lycée Français Bonaparte (Slovenia) 47–45.
The schools have been drawn into eight groups of four teams each. Every team will play three matches in the first round, with a total of 48 games scheduled to be held until November 26.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the second round, scheduled for January 2027. The 16 qualifying teams will be divided into four groups of four, carrying forward their first-round results. The top two teams from each second-round group will progress to the quarterfinals, while the remaining teams will compete in classification matches.
The quarter-finals are scheduled for April 6 and 7, 2027, followed by the semifinals on April 11 and the third-place playoff on April 15. The final will take place on the closing day of the Schools Olympic Program.
