Bold claim: the 83rd-ranked team just toppled a 30th-ranked powerhouse in a dramatic upset. And it happened after Lebanon had handed them two heartbreakers earlier in the year.
ZOUL MIKAEL (Lebanon) – In a culmination of Group D action during the opening window of the World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers, Qatar shocked Lebanon 86-83. This marked Cedars’ first home loss in World Cup Qualifiers since 2019, ending a seven-game home streak that stretched through the previous qualifying cycle. Equally notable, it was Qatar’s first win over Lebanon since 2015 in major FIBA competitions.
TURNING POINT
Q3, 1:18 remaining: Abdulrahman Saad buried a triple to push Qatar eight points ahead, a margin they would not surrender from there. Wael Arakji had a look to force a late tie at the buzzer, but his shot fell short, sealing the upset for Qatar.
KEY PLAYER
Qatar’s point guard Brandon Goodwin delivered another standout all-around performance: 25 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2 steals. He received strong help from Alen Hadzibegovic, the 6'11" center who notched a double-double by the third quarter and finished with 14 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 assists.
FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Qualifiers
Catch top plays, game recaps, and video highlights.
STATS DON’T LIE
Lebanon’s higher turnover count—13 for the second consecutive game—proved costly. From the line, Qatar struggled, making 14 of 24 free throws, but Lebanon answered with poor perimeter shooting, hitting just 22.7% from three-point range. Qatar also outblocked Lebanon by four, a small margin that proved decisive in a tight game.
BOTTOM LINE
Even with a secure spot in the 2027 World Cup, Qatar isn’t treating these qualifiers lightly. The contest showed that the path to Qatar 2027 remains fiercely competitive and unpredictable.
THEY SAID
“This is my third time facing them [Lebanon]. Every game is tough, every second counts. We stayed resilient and focused the entire game—that’s what we’ve been missing in the earlier battles this year.” — Brandon Goodwin, Qatar
“We’ve built a new, tougher defensive team in Asia.” — Cengiz Karadag, Qatar Assistant Coach (stepping in as lead coach after Hakan Demir’s second-quarter ejection)
“Tough home loss in front of our fans. I anticipated a challenging game. We didn’t perform up to our standards, but Lebanon deserved the win. We’ll bounce back with time together.” — Ahmad El Farran, Lebanon Head Coach
“I take responsibility for not elevating my game in big moments. Being part of the national team means stepping up, and I intend to improve.” — Dedric Lawson, Lebanon center
Watch the post-game press conference:
SMART FANTASY LEAGUE
Create your team, join a league, and challenge friends
