All you need to know: Ireland v Switzerland

Ireland play our second FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European Pre-Qualifier on Sunday. The Group A fixture takes place on Sunday at 15:00, with live coverage on the TG4 Facebook page, as well as the FIBA YouTube Channel.

COMPETITION FORMAT

Ireland have been drawn in Group A alongside Kosovo, Switzerland and Azerbaijan. Group games will take place across three windows, this week, November 2024 and February 2025. 

Mark Keenan’s side come into the contest as the 85^th ranked side in the world, Kosovo are 77^th, Azerbaijan 118^th and Switzerland 63^rd. Ireland’s lost 83-76  to Kosovo in Prishtina in their Group A opener on Thursday. Read the game report here.

The three group winners along with the best second-placed team will advance to the second qualifying round of the 2027 FIBA ​​World Cup, which will be played in the summer of 2025. 

Mark Keenan, Ireland head coach “Naturally we were disappointed not to come away with the win against Kosovo, having led in the fourth quarter, but there’s plenty to be positive about and we’ll take that confidence into Sunday’s game with Switzerland. They’re a side we know very well having played them regularly over the last couple of years. We’re determined to get a win, to get our qualifying campaign up and running. Our home support has been amazing and being cheered on by sold out National Basketball Arena is a massive boost to the squad.”

WATCH

The game will be broadcast live on the TG4's Facebook page here with tip-off at 1500.

TICKETS 

Sunday's FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European Pre-Qualifier is SOLD OUT 

SQUAD NEWS

Keelan Cairns and Paul Dick were drafted into the squad and are in contention to make final 12-man squad for Sunday's game with Switerzerland. Rapolas Buivydas and James Beckkom made their international debuts against Kosovo, while David Lehane in line for his first senior cap if selected for the game with Switzerland. Ireland will be without players based in the college system USA, ruling out CJ Fulton, Aidan Harris-Igiehon, Neil Quinn and Sam Alajiki from the squad that defeated Luxembourg home and away. 

OPPOSITION VIEW

Ireland have played Switzerland four times in the last two years, twice in FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Pre-Qualifiers, losing 83-72 in Fribourg in February 2022, losing 88-82 in Dublin in July 2022. They played a pair of behind-closed-doors friendlies in summer 2023 losing both, 86-74 and 77-76, in Geneva.

Switzerland defeated Azerbaijan 72-53 in Fribourg in their FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European Pre-Qualifiers opener on Thursday. Selim Fofana with 19 points, 5 assists and 5 rebounds.

IRELAND MEN’S TEAM ROSTER

Adrian O’Sullivan (Ballincollig), Lorcan Murphy (Templeogue), James Beckom (UCC Demons), Neil Randolph (Templeogue), Sean Flood (Den Helder, Netherlands), Conor Quinn (Belfast Star), Jordan Blount (Energywise Ireland Neptune), Rapolas Buivydas (Garvey’s Tralee Warriors), James Gormley (Griffith College Éanna), David Lehane (UCC Demons), Taiwo Badmus (Valur, Iceland), Matt Treacy (Wallabies, Switzerland), Keelan Cairns (Ballincollig), Paul Dick (Killester)