Iran Basketball Drops to Seventh in FIBA Asia Rankings After World Cup Qualifier Setbacks
Tehran - BORNA - According to the latest rankings released by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), Team Melli’s drop comes after a challenging international window. Iran first suffered a narrow 93-91 overtime heartbreak against New Zealand before falling 68-56 to the Philippines.
In its analytical report, FIBA highlighted the return of Mohammad Amini to the national squad. Amini, who recently competed in the NBA Summer League with the Boston Celtics, averaged 11.5 points across the two matchups. However, he struggled heavily with his shooting efficiency, converting just 20.7 percent of his field-goal attempts and missing all 12 of his three-point shots.
The FIBA report also underscored the glaring void left by key absentees. Iran continues to feel the loss of Sina Vahedi, who is still undergoing rehabilitation for a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), alongside the absence of veteran guard Behnam Yakhchali.
In the updated continental standings, Australia maintains its firm grip on the top spot, followed by New Zealand, Japan, the Philippines, China, and Lebanon. Iran sits in seventh place, ahead of South Korea, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Syria, which round out the top 12 teams in the current FIBA Asia power rankings for the 2027 World Cup Qualifiers.
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