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Türkiye became the second national team to secure a spot in the 2027 World Cup, joining host nation Qatar as a result of Monday’s blowout win over Iceland, per FIBA. The Turkish squad improved its record in World Cup qualifying games to 8-0 as former NBA forwards Cedi Osman and Onuralp Bitim each scored a team-high 17 points in the 110-73 victory.

It represents a significant turnaround for Türkiye, whose roster for the fourth window of qualifiers featured several other current and former NBA players, such as Adem Bona, Omer Yurtseven, Furkan Korkmazand Malachi Flynn. The team didn’t participate in the 2023 World Cup after finishing 4-6 in the qualifiers, but has been more competitive in recent international competitions, finishing as the runner-up at EuroBasket 2025 with Alperen Sengun leading the way.

Although Türkiye is the only team besides Qatar to officially qualify for the 2027 World Cup so far, Canada all but assured its place in next year’s event with its 97-92 win over Argentina on Monday, tweets Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.ca.

Hawks teammates Nickeil Alexander-Walker (26 points, five assists) and Luguentz there (25 points, +24 on/off) led the way for the Canadians, who are also undefeated through eight qualifying games and figure to lock up their World Cup berth during the next qualifying window in November.

We have more on the World Cup qualifiers:

• A pair of Heat teammates squared off on Monday as Nikola Jovic‘s Serbians topped Simone Fontecchio and Italy by a score of 76-64. According to Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel (subscription required), Heat head coach Erik Spoelstraassistant coach Chris Quinnand assistant general manager Adam Simon were in attendance for the game. “The level and the intensity of these games is terrific,” Spoelstra said, per FIBA. “We always encourage our guys to play for their countries. One because it’s the passion and the excitement around it, but also it prepares you for an NBA season better than anything else.”
• Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic scored just eight points and went 1-of-4 from the free throw line in 24 minutes of action during Serbia’s win on Monday. According to head coach Dusan Alimpijevicthere was a good reason for Jokic’s modest showing, as Stefan Acevski of Eurohoops relays. Alimpijevic said the star center played despite being “very, very sick” and having been on an IV drip. “He refused to give up and leave this team,” Serbia’s coach said. “He came to play, never complained to us, and did what he did. We are so proud to have a captain like him.”
• Portugal head coach Mario Gomes insisted that Celtics big man Nehemiah Queta came out of Friday’s World Cup qualifying game for precautionary reasons after appearing to suffer a lower leg injury. Queta showed on Monday that there were no ill effects, starting at center for the Portuguese team and racking up 20 points and 11 rebounds in 30 minutes, though his team lost 98-90 to Sandro Mamukelashvili (22 points), Goga Bitadze (11 points), and the Georgians.
• After missing the first game in this month’s World Cup qualifying window, Sixers guard VJ Edgecombe suited up for the Bahamas on Monday and scored a game-high 25 points in a 100-82 victory over Panama. The Bahamian national team improved its overall record in qualifiers to 4-4 with two wins in the past week and is back in contention for a World Cup berth.