By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Italian and Slovenian Basketball Federations have confirmed a high-profile friendly in Celje on June 27, a marquee matchup serving as a tune-up ahead of the final 2027 FIBA World Cup qualifying window of the current stage. The announcements were made on Monday.
Sitting atop Group D with a 3-1 record, the Azzurri are scheduled to visit Iceland on July 2 before hosting Lithuania on July 5 to close out the first phase. Success in these fixtures will see Italy advance to Group J, where they will cross paths with the top three teams from Group C. While Turkiye and Bosnia-Herzegovina have already secured their progression, Italy’s potential second-phase schedule would also likely include Serbia. Although the Serbians have not yet officially punched their ticket, they remain in a strong position alongside Switzerland and are favorites to advance.
A significant storyline for the summer window is the potential debut of Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo. While the 29-year-old guard has expressed a strong desire to represent Italy, his international eligibility remains subject to a face-to-face meeting with the 60-year-old Banchi. If cleared, he would join Miami Heat’s Simone Fontecchio to provide a formidable NBA-caliber core. For Slovenia, superstar Luka Doncic may enter the field to practice with his national team before the next Qualifiers, with Slovenia currently leading Group H at 3-1.
L’estate Azzurra è dietro l’angolo ☀💙
Slovenia-Italia a Celje il 27 giugno sarà una delle due amichevoli di prestigio che avvicineranno gli Azzurri all’ultima “finestra” della prima fase di qualificazione al Mondiale 2027!
Leggi di più: https://t.co/o4lDpnZsmu#Italbasket pic.twitter.com/WKWoxCh2Aq
— Italbasket (@Italbasket) March 30, 2026
The stakes for this journey remain immense as the competition transitions into the decisive second round, starting from late August, deeper in the upcoming offseason. The European Qualifiers will eventually culminate in four newly formed groups, with each pool offering three coveted tickets to the final stage of the FIBA World Cup 2027. This prestigious global tournament is set to be hosted in Qatar from August 27 to September 12, 2027.