One group stage and the decisive knockout matches of the 2025 European Men's Basketball Championships (EuroBasket 2025) will be held in Latvia, meaning that Latvia has already ensured qualification for this major basketball festival. However, participation in the qualification tournament is not just a formality.
It will be an opportunity to:
- to meet the team, with its excellent 6th Player fan movement, which is currently ranked 8th in the FIBA world rankings. A team that might have some changes in its roster, but does not change its playing style and winner mentality;
- improve the national team's win/loss record;
- get ready for next summer's big adventure - the European Championship Finals in Riga;
- allow injured players to return to the roster, as well as involve young and promising talents;
- enjoy the festive atmosphere and sing the national anthem all together, which has already become a tradition.
The Latvian national team is 9th in the FIBA ranking table (5th in Europe).
The Belgian national team is 39th in the FIBA rankings (18th in Europe). The team has been a regular at European Championship finals since 2011 and started this qualifying tournament with two wins (away to Slovakia - 75:60 and home against Spain - 58:53), significantly improving their chances of qualifying for EuroBasket 2025.
On 15 September 2013, the Latvians lost 56:60 in the European Championship final in Ljubljana, where they were denied the chance to play in the quarter-finals. The next four matches were won: the opening match of EuroBasket2015 in Riga with 78:67, the EuroBasket2017 group tournament in Istanbul with 92:64, the 2023 World Cup qualification tournament in Mons with 65:64 and in Riga with 68:63.