Türkiye became the first team to qualify for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup after extending its perfect European qualifying run with a 110-73 victory over Iceland on the road.
The victory in Reykjavik gave Ergin Ataman's team an 8-0 record and secured its place at next year's World Cup with four qualifying games still remaining.
Türkiye dominated from the opening minutes at Laugardalshöll, taking a 33-14 lead after the first quarter and carrying a 60-37 advantage into halftime. The margin reached 24 points after three quarters, with Türkiye leading 80-56 before pulling further away in the final period.
Cedi Osman and Onuralp Bitim led Türkiye with 17 points apiece, while Kenan Sipahi added 15. Malachi Flynn scored 13, and Şehmus Hazer and Yiğitcan Saybir each contributed 10.
The result capped another commanding window for Türkiye, which defeated Lithuania 94-66 two days earlier. Its most notable victory of the qualifying campaign came in March, when it beat Serbia 94-86 in Istanbul.
Türkiye remain the only undefeated team in the European qualifiers and sit atop Group J.
Ataman said Türkiye approached the game with the necessary seriousness, particularly because Iceland had already recorded three wins in the group and had beaten Italy on the road and Lithuania at home.
Türkiye also had recent history to overcome, having lost in Iceland two years ago.
"We took the game very seriously," Ataman said. "Our players put on a tremendous defensive performance. On offense, everyone shared the ball very well without egos, playing inside and outside."
"Maybe this game was even better than the Lithuania game. We got a very clear and convincing victory with very good basketball."
Ataman also highlighted the contributions of Türkiye's reserves, pointing to Bitim, Sipahi and Saybir among those who made a major impact.
"We got very serious contributions from all of our players coming off the bench," Ataman said. "Onuralp made a huge contribution. Kenan did his job very well as always. Yiğitcan did not make us miss Ercan's absence and fought tremendously on the court."
Turkish Basketball Federation (TBF) President Hidayet Türkoğlu said the team learned it had officially qualified for the World Cup shortly after the game, with the news reaching the locker room after the victory.
"We are 8-0 and undefeated. After a great victory, we also got our World Cup ticket," Türkoğlu said. "We cannot be proud enough of our players and our coach."
Türkoğlu said Türkiye's rise has continued since finishing runner-up at the European championship and praised the team's unity and consistency.
"These processes are not easy," he said. "The unity they show when they step onto the court and the fight they put up have once again shown that they deserve to be at the top of European basketball."
Although qualification is already secured, Türkoğlu said Türkiye will use its remaining games to continue improving and building confidence ahead of the World Cup.
"Even though we have qualified, what matters is playing better basketball, improving ourselves and gaining confidence," he said. "The November and February games will be very valuable for us, both for our development and our rankings in Europe and around the world."
Türkoğlu also thanked the Turkish supporters who followed the team at home and abroad.
"We represent the country. Our players wear the crescent-and-star jersey," he said. "Every victory makes millions of people proud and happy."
Türkiye will compete at the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Doha, Qatar, marking the country's sixth appearance at the tournament.
The team will be looking to improve on its best World Cup finish, when it reached the final and claimed the silver medal as host of the 2010 tournament.
The early qualification gives Ataman and his players additional time to prepare for the tournament, while also allowing the team to use its remaining qualifying games to develop further.
Youth and Sports Minister Osman Aşkın Bak congratulated the team after its victory, writing on NSosyal: "We are at the World Cup. Well done, 12 Dev Adam!"
He later quoted FIBA's social media post and added: "Think of a whole world and Türkiye! We are a little early."
Türkiye's perfect qualifying record has made it the first nation to secure a place in the 2027 World Cup alongside host Qatar, with four European qualifying games still to play.
