The Croatian national basketball team welcomes Latvia on August 27 at the Krešimir Ćosić Arena. With the support of Ivica Zubac, Karlo Matković, and Mario Hezonja, Tomislav Mijatović's squad aims to take a major step toward their first World Cup appearance in 13 years.
The Croatian national basketball team is on the verge of achieving a major goal, qualifying for the 2027 FIBA World Cup in Qatar. The road to the final tournament continues at the end of August, with a key stop in Zadar, where Tomislav Mijatović's squad will host Latvia on August 27, 2026, at the Krešimir Ćosić Arena on Višnjik.
As the second round of qualifiers begins, with six more matches ahead, one home and one away against Poland, Latvia, and the Netherlands, the national team finds itself in an excellent position. In the group standings, Poland leads with a perfect 6-0 record, while Croatia and Germany share second place with five wins each. Latvia has three wins, while the Netherlands and Israel have two apiece. This setup means that every new victory by Poland and Germany against direct competitors works in Croatia's favor, as the team holds its destiny in its own hands.
Head coach Tomislav Mijatović can count on his strongest assets in the first qualifying window. For the matches against Latvia and the Netherlands, Ivica Zubac, Karlo Matković, and Mario Hezonja from the NBA will be available. This is particularly important because they will not be available in the remaining two qualifying windows due to their commitments in the world's strongest league.
The first window's schedule features a home clash with Latvia on August 27, followed by an away game against the Netherlands three days later, on August 30. Two wins in this cycle would represent a massive step forward. With four rounds remaining, Croatia would open a gap of at least three wins over its closest chasers and would practically decide its own fate in the final stretch of the qualifiers.
Croatia has not appeared at the World Cup since 2014, when they finished tenth in Spain. That squad included Mario Hezonja and Dario Šarić, who were still beardless at the time. Hezonja was just 19, while Šarić was 20. Twelve years later, it is these two, now seasoned leaders, who have the opportunity to lead Croatia back to the world's biggest basketball stage and end the long wait for a return among the global elite.
"For all these reasons, Zadar is an excellent choice to host a match that could take us one step closer to returning to a major international competition. A city of basketball, a packed arena, an electric atmosphere, and only one goal, victory! Good luck!"
Recent performances, team chemistry, and the standings give reason for optimism. However, past experiences serve as a warning that there is no room for complacency. Croatia is in a position where it controls its own destiny, and the first step toward ending the 13-year drought will be a win against Latvia in Zadar. Three days later, that result will need to be confirmed on the road in the Netherlands.
