Portugal basketball: Celtics center Queta, St. John's forward Prey named to World Cup qualifying roster

After a sensational victory in Greece that secured qualification for the second qualifying phase of the 2027 World Cup, the Portuguese National Team will return to action in August. Mário Gomes' squad will face Spain on August 28 in Zaragoza, followed by Georgia on August 31 in Matosinhos.

These matches mark the beginning of a six-game campaign in which Portugal will attempt to secure a spot in the World Cup. The task is formidable, given the strength of the opposition and the current standings:

• Spain: 5 wins, 1 loss
• Ukraine: 4 wins, 2 losses
• Montenegro: 4 wins, 2 losses
• Portugal: 3 wins, 3 losses
• Greece: 3 wins, 3 losses
• Georgia: 3 wins, 3 losses

The top three teams will advance.

Key Players Available

Mário Gomes will be able to count on both Neemias Queta and Rúben Prey for the upcoming fixtures.

Neemias Queta, the Celtics center, has extended his contract with the NBA team for four more seasons at $56 million. He has been training in Boston and, as was the case during qualification for Euro 2025, he is eager to contribute. Due to his commitments in the United States, this window is the only opportunity for him to play.

Rúben Prey, a 21-year-old forward/center standing 2.08 meters tall, was included in the previous call-up but was sidelined due to a broken arm. He is now recovering, and St. John's will not prevent his participation this time. Like Neemias, Prey can only join the team during this period due to his commitments in the United States.

Preparation Schedule

The National Team will begin training on August 10 in Luso and will play two preparation matches before facing Spain. The opponents for these friendlies have not yet been announced, but they are expected to be played away from home.