Greece suffers defeat to Ukraine in World Cup qualifiers

The Greek national basketball team faced a significant setback in their 2027 World Cup qualification campaign, suffering an 82-76 defeat against Ukraine at the Xiaomi Arena in Riga, Latvia, on August 28, 2026. This loss leaves Greece at the bottom of the 9th group standings, complicating their path to the final tournament.

Despite a commendable performance from Nick Calathes, who recorded 17 points and eight assists, the Greek side struggled defensively and failed to counter Ukraine’s high-scoring runs. Tyler Dorsey added 16 points, and Dinos Mitoglou contributed 13. For Ukraine, Kovliar led the scoring with 18 points, supported by Shulga with 14 and Mykhailiuk with 11. Head coach Vassilis Spanoulis acknowledged that the opposition was physically superior and maintained a faster pace throughout the match.

Greece had previously struggled in the first round, finishing with a 3-3 record after losses to Romania and Portugal. With five games remaining in the qualification window, coach Spanoulis emphasized the need for better energy, improved offensive choices, and increased intensity. The team is now looking ahead to their next fixture against Spain, aiming to improve their standing and secure a spot in the next phase.