Europe November 2025, February 2026, and June/July 2026
Source: https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/fiba-eurobasket-2029-pre-qualifiers
Source: https://www.luxembourg.basketball/
Luxembourg’s journey in the EuroBasket Pre-Qualifiers is a story of a “small but mighty” basketball nation consistently trying to break through into the European elite. While they are often viewed as underdogs, they have a history of punching above their weight, especially on their home court.
Here is the breakdown of Luxembourg’s history and current standing in this competition:
🇱🇺 The 2029 Campaign (Current Status)
Luxembourg is currently competing in Group A of the First Round. As of March 2026, they sit in 2nd place with a record of 2 wins and 2 losses.
The Stakes: To advance to the Second Round, Luxembourg must either overtake North Macedonia for 1st place or finish as the best overall runner-up across the three groups. Their final two games in July 2026 (both at home) are “must-wins.”
📜 Historical Context
Luxembourg was actually a pioneer in European basketball but has spent recent decades fighting to return to the main stage.
1. The Golden Era (1940s–1950s)
Luxembourg qualified for the final EuroBasket tournament three times during the mid-20th century:
- 1946 (Geneva): Finished 8th. This remains their best-ever finish.
- 1951 (Paris): Finished 17th.
- 1955 (Budapest): Finished 15th.
- Since 1955, the “Red Lions” have not reached the final 24-team tournament.
2. Modern Pre-Qualifying Struggles
In recent cycles, Luxembourg has often been relegated to the “Small Countries” championships or the early Pre-Qualifying rounds:
- EuroBasket 2025 Cycle: They struggled, finishing with a 1–7 record across the qualifying phases, with their lone highlight being a victory over Cyprus.
- World Cup 2023 Pre-Qualifiers: They showed flashes of brilliance, including an 88–80 upset over Kosovo, but ultimately failed to advance past the second round of pre-qualification.
🌟 Key Figures
The current roster is considered one of the most competitive Luxembourg has fielded in years:
- Ben Kovac: The team’s offensive engine. His 38-point performance against Ireland in late 2025 is one of the highest individual scores in recent pre-qualifying history.
- Clancy Rugg: A naturalized veteran who provides essential rebounding and veteran leadership in the paint.
- Ken Diederich (Head Coach): Has been credited with modernizing the team’s style of play, focusing on high-tempo transition and three-point shooting.
📅 Upcoming July Deciders
Luxembourg’s fate for the 2029 cycle will be decided in the next window at the d’Coque in Kirchberg:
- July 2, 2026: vs. Azerbaijan
- July 5, 2026: vs. North Macedonia (The “Big One”)
The Path to EuroBasket 2029
The road to FIBA EuroBasket 2029 has officially begun. Since we are currently in February 2026, the First Round of the Pre-Qualifiers is in full swing, with teams battling for a spot in the main qualifying draw.
The final tournament will be co-hosted by Estonia, Greece, Slovenia, and Spain, with the final phase taking place in Madrid.
🏀 Pre-Qualifiers: First Round Overview
The First Round features 10 teams divided into three groups. They are competing in a home-and-away format across three specific windows: November 2025, February 2026, and June/July 2026.
Current Group Standings (as of February 2026)
| Group | Teams | Notable Performance |
| Group A | North Macedonia, Luxembourg, Ireland, Azerbaijan | North Macedonia and Luxembourg are currently leading with 2-0 records. |
| Group B | Norway, Bulgaria, Armenia | Norway and Bulgaria secured early wins. |
| Group C | Kosovo, Slovakia, Albania | Kosovo and Slovakia are the early frontrunners. |
How Advancement Works
To move on to the Second Round, teams must be:
- The winner of their respective group (3 teams).
- The best-ranked second-placed team across all groups (1 team).
Note: For the ranking of second-placed teams, results against fourth-placed teams (in Group A) are disregarded to keep the comparison fair with the three-team groups.
📅 Upcoming Schedule (February/March 2026 Window)
We are right in the middle of a critical window. Here are some of the key matchups happening right now:
- February 27, 2026:
- North Macedonia vs. Luxembourg (Skopje)
- Kosovo vs. Slovakia (Prizren)
- Norway vs. Bulgaria (Honefoss)
- Ireland vs. Azerbaijan (Dublin)
- March 2, 2026:
- Azerbaijan vs. North Macedonia (Baku)
- Armenia vs. Bulgaria (Yerevan)
- Albania vs. Slovakia (Shkoder)
- Ireland vs. Luxembourg (Dublin)
🗺️ The Path to EuroBasket 2029
The qualification process is a multi-year marathon:
- First Round (Current): Nov 2025 – July 2026.
- Second Round: Scheduled for late 2026/early 2027. This round will include the 4 advancing teams from the first round plus 8 teams from the FIBA World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers.
- Third Round: Final pre-qualifying push in 2027.
- Main Qualifiers: Expected to run from February 2028 to February 2029, where the “big names” of European basketball enter the fray.
What are the oportunities for the Luxembourg Team?
The Luxembourg national team, led by head coach Ken Diederich, has a very consistent core that has performed exceptionally well in the early stages of the EuroBasket 2029 Pre-Qualifiers. They are currently 2-0 following wins over Ireland and Azerbaijan.
For the current February 2026 window (including the crucial away game against North Macedonia), the roster features a mix of experienced veterans and players competing in top European leagues.
🇱🇺 Luxembourg Men’s National Team Roster (February 2026)
| Player | Position | Current Club |
| Ben Kovac | Forward | Alm Evreux (FRA) |
| Clancy Rugg | Forward | Basket Esch (LUX) |
| Alex Laurent | Forward | Amicale Steinsel (LUX) |
| Philippe Gutenkauf | Guard | Etzella Ettelbruck (LUX) |
| Malcolm Kreps | Guard/Forward | Okapi Aalst (BEL) |
| Ivan Delgado | Guard | T71 Dudelange (LUX) |
| Joe Kalmes | Center | T71 Dudelange (LUX) |
| Oliver Vujakovic | Forward | Résidence Walfer (LUX) |
| Max Logelin | Guard | Sparta Bertrange (LUX) |
| Dino Ceman | Forward | Basket Esch (LUX) |
| Davy Rocha | Guard | Fitosur Murgi (SPA) |
| Yannick Verbeelen | Guard | Sparta Bertrange (LUX) |
Key Players to Watch
- Ben Kovac: The undisputed star of the team. He recently dominated with a 38-point performance in the opening window. He is a versatile scorer who plays professionally in the French Pro B league.+1
- Clancy Rugg: A naturalized forward who provides essential interior presence and rebounding. He is a double-double threat in almost every international game.
- Philippe Gutenkauf: The primary playmaker. His ability to hit outside shots and manage the tempo is vital for Luxembourg’s small-ball lineups.
- Alex Laurent: The captain and emotional leader. He is a reliable “glue guy” who can score from the perimeter and defend multiple positions.
Team Dynamics
Luxembourg typically plays a fast-paced, perimeter-oriented game. Because they often lack elite size compared to giants like North Macedonia, they rely on high-volume three-point shooting and aggressive transition play. Under Ken Diederich, they have become known for “giant-killing” upsets in these early rounds.
