What Awaits Serbia and What Do We Need for a World Cup Spot?

The Serbian national basketball team has taken another significant step towards the World Cup. Following their victory over Iceland in the first match of the decisive second qualification phase, they also defeated Italy in the second, placing Dušan Alimpijević's team in an excellent position ahead of the final four qualification rounds.

Our team still has two "windows" left in the qualifiers: first in November, featuring two potentially crucial matches against Lithuania and Italy, and then two more in February – against Iceland and again against Lithuania.

August 28, 2026.

Serbia – Iceland 102:73

Turkey – Lithuania 94:66

Bosnia and Herzegovina – Italy 78:76

August 31, 2026.

Italy – Serbia 64:76

Lithuania – Bosnia and Herzegovina 78:73

Iceland – Turkey 73:110

By the end of this August "window," we saw the first European team secure its spot at the World Cup. That's the Turkish national team, leaders of our Group J, who crushed Iceland (110:73) on Monday.

The European vice-champions top Group J with an 8-0 record, immediately followed by Serbia, whose triumph against Italy marked their sixth win in the qualifiers. They have two losses, both to Turkey.

The Azzurri now hold third place with a 5-3 record, followed by Lithuania, who, after defeating Bosnia and Herzegovina, stand at 4-4. At the bottom are Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iceland, both with three wins and five losses, holding only theoretical chances of reaching the World Cup.

With four games remaining (see the full schedule at the end of the text), it's highly likely that even two victories would be enough for us to secure a spot at the continental showpiece.

However, it's important to note that coach Dušan Alimpijević will not have Nikola Jokić and Nikola Jović available for the remaining two "windows," nor will he have most EuroLeague players.

With two wins, we would certainly be ahead of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iceland. In theory, only Lithuania could catch us, and that would require them to win all four of their remaining games – meaning they would have to beat us twice, as we still have upcoming clashes with the Lithuanians.

Serbia holds its destiny in its own hands, but the job isn't done yet. Theoretically, it could be sealed on November 26 in the next match, which Dušan Alimpijević's team will play in Lithuania. An away win there would 99% secure our spot at the World Cup; only a theoretical and incredible turn of events could keep Serbia out of the tournament.

Just three days later, everything could become completely clear, as Italy visits Serbia on November 29. Regardless, with two wins in August, the Eagles have secured an excellent position heading into the final stretch of qualifications. And at the very end, we face an away game against Iceland, and then, if needed, a match point against Lithuania in Belgrade.

So, four matches remain in the qualifiers, and the goal is clear – one of the top three spots in Group J and qualification for the World Cup, which will be held from August 27 to September 12, 2027, in Qatar.

There was everything in Italy. From the start, it was clear we would witness a tense and dramatic match, which ultimately lasted two hours and 15 minutes. Nikola Jović was ejected, his namesake Milutinov suffered an injury but returned to play, and although Nikola Jokić had a somewhat subdued performance, Serbia had its heroes.

Those heroes were Marko Gudurić and Aleksa Avramović. The new Bahçeşehir player scored 20 points, while the Olimpia ace added one less. Both stepped up in the second half when it mattered most. Jokić finished the game with eight points and eight rebounds.

For Italy, Nico Mannion scored 20 points, while Simone Fontecchio, despite a strong start, finished with 15 – read more in Stefan Acevski's report.

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