Portugal’s national basketball team will navigate its initial qualifying games for the 2027 FIBA World Cup without its highest-profile player, Neemias Queta, and team captain Miguel Queiroz, according to a squad announcement made Thursday.
Queta, who plays for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association (NBA), is unavailable as NBA players are not permitted to participate in national team games during the league season. The 24-year-old center recently started a Celtics game, scoring 17 points and grabbing eight rebounds.
Captain Miguel Queiroz is sidelined due to a left shoulder injury sustained during an October 18 club match between FC Porto and Sporting. His absence further complicates coach Mário Gomes’s preparations.
These key absences define the 22-player preliminary squad selected by Gomes for the upcoming Group B qualifiers. Portugal is set to face Montenegro in Podgorica on November 27 and Greece in Matosinhos on November 30.
Despite these significant losses, the squad sees the return of guard Anthony da Silva and center Gonçalo Delgado, both of whom missed Eurobasket2025 due to injuries. Forward Ricardo Monteiro, who was the final cut for that tournament, also rejoins the national team setup.
Two new players, guard António Lucas and center Rui Palhares, have been added to the pre-selection list. However, forward André Cruz remains out with an injury, and Rúben Prey, who plays U.S. collegiate basketball, is also unavailable.
The team’s core otherwise remains largely intact from the Eurobasket2025 squad that reached the round of 16, where they were defeated 85-58 by eventual champions Germany.
Beyond Montenegro and Greece, Portugal’s Group B opponents for the first round of 2027 World Cup qualification also include Romania. The team will play Romania twice in 2026, first at home on February 27 and then away on March 2.
The qualifying round concludes with home and away matches against Montenegro on July 2, 2027, and Greece on July 5, 2027, respectively. Portugal must finish among the top three teams in the group to advance to the next stage of qualification.
The 20th edition of the FIBA World Cup will be held in Qatar from August 27 to September 12, 2027, featuring 32 national teams from around the globe.