Jamaica's national basketball team made history in August 2025, advancing to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Americas Qualifiers for the first time in the programme's history after a successful campaign in the pre-qualifiers held in Ciudad Obregón, Mexico.
The Campaign
Jamaica competed in Group A of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Americas Pre-Qualifiers alongside Mexico, Barbados, and Costa Rica. The team needed to finish in the top positions to advance to the full qualifying round.
Game 1: Jamaica 101, Barbados 79
Jamaica opened their campaign with a commanding 101-79 victory over Barbados on August 8, 2025. The comprehensive win set the tone for the tournament and gave Jamaica the confidence needed heading into tougher fixtures.
Game 2: Jamaica 80, Costa Rica 76 (OT)
The pivotal game of the tournament came on August 9 against Costa Rica. It was a tense affair that went to overtime after the teams finished regulation tied at 71 points apiece.
Norman Powell, making his debut for the Jamaica national team, delivered a performance for the ages. The NBA veteran scored 34 points to lead Jamaica to an 80-76 overtime victory — a result that effectively secured their place in the qualifiers.
Game 3: Mexico 98, Jamaica 75
Jamaica's final game against the hosts Mexico on August 10 ended in a 98-75 defeat, but by that point Jamaica had already done enough to advance.
Historic Achievement
The qualification represents a landmark moment for Jamaican basketball. It was the first time the country's men's national basketball team had advanced through a FIBA pre-qualifying round to reach the Americas Qualifiers for a World Cup.
Norman Powell's Debut
Powell's decision to represent Jamaica on the international stage was a major boost to the programme. The NBA player's 34-point performance against Costa Rica instantly became one of the most memorable individual displays in the history of Jamaican basketball.
His involvement signals a growing trend of players with Jamaican heritage choosing to represent the country at the highest levels of international basketball, adding depth and credibility to the national team programme.
