By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The senior national team of Croatia enters the upcoming FIBA World Cup 2027 qualifying window with an 18-player squad that blends top-tier international experience with rising domestic talent.
The list revealed by the Croatian Basketball Federation, HKS, on Friday is headlined by Mario Hezonja, Dario Saric, and Ivica Zubac, who provide the foundational leadership for the national side. Head coach Tomislav Mijatovic has surrounded this elite trio with a deep group of players, including Karlo Matkovic of the New Orleans Pelicans.
Naturalized Jaleen Smith, alongside Kresimir Radovcic, Dominik Mavra, Lovro Gnjidic, Roko Badzim, Antonio Jordano, and Niko Sare, further strengthen the selections, with Luka Bozic, Antonio Sikiric, David Skara, Michael Ruzic, Danko Brankovic, Lovro Mazalin, and Roko Prkacin called up as well.
Izbornik Tomislav Mijatović odabrao je igrače za predstojeće okupljanje reprezentacije i kvalifikacijske utakmice protiv Cipra i Izraela. Pod našim bojama zajedno idemo po nove pobjede! 🇭🇷 pic.twitter.com/GeSa82bgVM
— HKS_CBF 🇭🇷🏀 (@CbfHks) June 12, 2026
The squad initiates its preparations with a training camp in Opatija starting Monday, building toward an initial competitive test against Italy in a friendly match scheduled for June 24 in Gorizia. This exhibition serves as vital preparation for the approaching FIBA window that will heavily influence Croatia’s path to the tournament in Qatar.
The competitive slate begins on July 3 with an away fixture against Cyprus, followed by a home matchup on July 6 against Israel at Osijek’s Gradski vrt Hall. Boasting a 3–1 record, Croatia currently leads Group E by virtue of a superior head-to-head point differential against Germany. While the team has already clinched advancement to the secondary phase, these July games remain vital because all results carry over into the next round, where they will merge into a six-team group alongside top teams from a parallel pool featuring nations like Poland and Latvia.
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