World Cup medalists to play in Riga this November as EuroBasket qualifiers heat up
On November 17, Riga's Team Sports Games Hall will host two Women's EuroBasket 2027 qualifying matches — Latvia against Italy, preceded by France facing Ukraine. FIBA released the updated qualification schedule this week.
FIBA released an updated schedule this week for the Women's EuroBasket 2027 qualification tournament, confirming that Riga's Team Sports Games Hall will host two significant matches on November 17.
The Latvian national team will face Italy at 19:00 — one of Europe's strongest sides, which finished high at this year's World Cup and was placed in the second qualifying pot. Four hours earlier, in the same arena, France will take on Ukraine.
France, coached by Jean-Aimé Toupane, claimed a historic silver medal at the World Cup final in Berlin on September 13, losing to twelve-time champions the United States 79:97. Two years earlier, the French team also reached the Olympic final. Eight France players compete in the WNBA, representing clubs including New York, Portland, Seattle and Phoenix.
Riga has served as Ukraine's temporary home court for a fifth consecutive year. Before facing France, the Ukrainian team will play away in Luxembourg on November 11, then in Manchester against Great Britain on November 14.
Latvia will open its November window with two away matches, in Vienna and Ljubljana, before hosting Italy in Riga on the eve of Latvia's national holiday.
Qualification format
Hosts Lithuania, Finland, Belgium and Sweden have already secured their spots at the European Championship. World Cup participants — Spain, Italy, France, Germany, Czechia, Turkey and Hungary — enter the qualification process starting from the second round. In this round, 24 teams split into six groups will compete for 12 spots at the final tournament, with the top two teams from each group advancing. Matches will be played across two windows — November 2026 and February 2027 — with three games per window.
