Portugal Learns EuroBasket 2027 Opponents

Germany, Hungary, and Denmark are the final hurdles standing between the Portuguese National Team and a spot in the EuroBasket Women 2027, as they were drawn into Group N. The draw for the second and final qualification phase took place today in Mies, Switzerland.

The "Lynxes," currently ranked 40th globally, are set to face two theoretically stronger teams and one more accessible opponent: Germany (11th), Hungary (19th), and Denmark (56th).

After making their EuroBasket debut in 2025, where they secured their first-ever victory against Montenegro, the Portuguese squad is now aiming for another qualification. The crucial matches are scheduled for November 2026 and February 2027.

Portugal successfully navigated the first phase, finishing second in Group G behind a dominant Serbia, who maintained a perfect record. They edged out Iceland on points, thanks to a decisive 100-70 home victory over the Nordic side.

To reach EuroBasket 2027, which will be co-hosted by two-time champions Belgium, Finland, Lithuania, and Sweden, Portugal must secure one of the top two spots in their group.

National coach Ricardo Vasconcelos acknowledged the tough road ahead.

“It was a tough draw. Not an easy or favorable one,” Vasconcelos stated in an interview with Lusa news agency. “Being in the third pot, we always knew we’d face two very strong seeded teams. Even so, these are two teams with strong physical structures and very, very impressive recent results, which will undoubtedly create many difficulties for us.”

Anticipating challenging encounters, the coach also highlighted the difficulty posed by Denmark, even from the fourth pot. “They are currently the most ascendant team in Europe and defeated Croatia twice in the first phase,” he noted. Despite the formidable opposition, Vasconcelos affirmed that the team's ambition remains undimmed. “Our objectives don’t change based on the group. Our goals would be exactly the same with any other group, but we are aware that we will need to play very disciplined basketball, particularly defensively, with highly effective strategies to overcome teams like Germany, Hungary, and even Denmark,” he explained, warning that these are “teams that quickly put two-meter players on the court.”