Croatia names squad for August Basketball World Cup qualifiers

Croatia’s senior men’s basketball team has announced its 15-player squad for the August training camp and upcoming qualifiers for the 2027 FIBA World Cup against Latvia and the Netherlands.

Head coach Tomislav Mijatović will gather the team in Opatija on August 13, as preparations begin for the next stage of qualifying for the World Cup in Qatar.

The squad includes several current and former NBA players, among them Mario Hezonja, Dario Šarić, Ivica Zubac and Karlo Matković.

Following a week of training, Croatia will travel to Hamburg, Germany, for a four-team tournament featuring Turkey, Germany and the Czech Republic. Croatia will open the competition against Turkey on August 21, with the event serving as the team’s final test before competitive action resumes.

Mijatović said the preparation period will focus on restoring players’ fitness after the summer break, while also working on technical, tactical and individual aspects of the game.

“We are very excited to start preparations and meet the players again. Most of them have been with us during the previous qualification windows, and this time Karlo Matković, Toni Nakić and Mateo Drežnjak will join us again,” Mijatović said.

“We have very serious and specific preparations ahead of us as the players are returning after the summer break. The tournament comes at the right time and will serve as a final warm-up for the team,” he added.

After the Hamburg tournament, Croatia will continue preparations in Zadar before facing Latvia at the Krešimir Ćosić Hall on August 27. The team will then travel to Amsterdam two days later for an away qualifier against the Netherlands.

Mijatović is calling on Croatian fans to fill the Zadar arena and provide the team with strong support as it continues its World Cup qualifying campaign.