Group of Death, Men s Basketball World Cup Preliminary Schedule is released, Xu Jie and Kawamura Yuhui have a duel

The schedule of the 2027 Qatar Men's Basketball World Cup qualifiers was officially announced recently. The Chinese men's basketball team was assigned to Group B, ushering in six tough battles against South Korea, Japan and Taipei, China. This group is called the "Death Group" by the outside world, not only because of its strong opponents, but also because of the highlights of the Chinese men's basketball team's first battle in Taiwan. The fans could no longer hold back their excitement, especially the showdown between Guangdong Hongyuan young player Xu Jie and Japanese Yuki Kawamura. The Asian Basketball Federation is obviously well versed in the traffic code, pushing this arrangement to the peak of hot discussion. However, some people joked that with the current strength of the Chinese men's basketball team, no matter which group they are assigned, they will never escape the fate of the "death group". The qualifiers system is clear and clear. In the first stage, 16 teams in the Asian region were divided into four groups, each with four teams, and they were competing at home and away double rounds, and the top three in each group advanced. In the second stage, 12 teams reorganized into two groups, with results brought in. In the end, the top three in each group plus the fourth with the best results, a total of 7 teams advanced to the main competition. In addition to host Qatar, there are 8 places in Asia. The first stage of the Chinese men's basketball team kicked off in November 2025 and ended in July 2026. The specific arrangements are: home against South Korea on November 28, away against South Korea on December 1, away against Japan on February 26, 2026, away against Taipei on March 1, away against Japan on July 1, away against Taipei on July 3, and home against Taipei on July 6. The intensive schedule and high-intensity confrontation are a great test of the players' physical fitness and will.

This first away game to Taiwan is particularly eye-catching. Since the Chinese men's basketball team resumed their FIBA ​​qualifications, they have never played a formal game in Taiwan. This away trip is of great significance, and secondly, all the opponents in Group B are not easy to mess with. The Japanese team has made significant progress in recent years. The naturalized players and youth training system have made them prosperous in the Asian arena, ranking first in the draw, and their strength is obvious to all. As a traditional powerhouse, the South Korean team has strong defense and rapid offense, and has always ranked among the top in Asia. Although the Chinese Taipei team is underestimated, it can always perform beyond its level when playing at home, especially when facing the Chinese team. In contrast, the Chinese men's basketball team has become the third tier in the draw, and the performance of international competitions has been ups and downs in recent years, and the transition between the old and the new has not been completed. The compactness of the

The compactness of the schedule also sounds a wake-up call for the Chinese men's basketball team. How to allocate players' physical fitness and adjust their home and away mentality are all difficulties that the coaching team must face. From the perspective of the players, this qualifier is both pressure and motivation. Imagine Xu Jie's away game is facing booing all over the field in Japan, and can he remain calm when breaking through and making a layup? The confrontation between the three teams of China, South Korea and Japan has always been full of grudges. Korean players may use tough defense to challenge the Chinese team's bottom line, while Japanese teams may use speed and cooperation to make the Chinese team exhausted. Fans have begun to take sides. Some support the Chinese men's basketball team to the end, while others are optimistic about Japan and South Korea's "learning" to the Chinese team. The comment section may inevitably have a war of words, but this is the charm of sports.

For the Chinese men's basketball team, qualifying in the group is not easy. Every match in Group B may become a life-and-death battle, and a slight mistake may ruin hope for advancement. Especially in the away game against Japan and Taipei, China, transportation, environment, and audience pressure will all become variables. The coaching staff needs to formulate strategies based on the characteristics of the opponent, such as limiting Japan's fast break, cracking South Korea's joint defense, and seizing the opportunity at home to strive for victory. No matter what the result is, the Chinese men's basketball team must face reality. The "death" attribute of Group B is a foregone conclusion, and each of the six games is worthy of breathtaking.