Team Bahamas Drawn Into Group For ’27 WC Qualifier

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – We’ve got a definitive look at the path for Team Bahamas as the road to Qatar gets underway this fall and they look to qualify for the 2027 FIBA World Cup.

In the Americas group, Team Bahamas was drawn into Group B alongside Canada, Puerto Rico, and the second-place team from the North American pre-qualifiers.

The Bahamas has participated in every edition of the World Cup qualifiers since the start of the tournament in 2017.

In the last qualifying cycle, the program advanced to the second round for the first time and finished with a 3–9 record.

The Bahamas fell one game short of the Olympics last summer in Valencia, Spain. Well, this is the start of the next Olympic qualification process.

Seven teams from the Americas region will qualify for the World Cup, and the top two teams from that group, excluding the USA, will advance to the LA Olympics.
The other teams are relegated to a pre-Olympic qualifier.

The 12 teams who advance to the second round of the Americas qualifying will also advance to the main draw of the 2029 FIBA AmeriCup.

LIGHTBOURNE TRANSFERS, JOINS COLLINS AT FIU
Two of the country’s top basketball prospects will join forces in South Florida for the next stop on their college hoops journeys.
Denika Lightbourne made her decision to close out her time in the transfer portal and decided to join the Florida International University Panthers in Conference USA.

Lightbourne spent her first two seasons of college hoops with the Dayton Flyers in the Atlantic 10.
As a freshman, the 5’9″ guard appeared in 29 games, started 12, and averaged 2.4 points and 1.2 rebounds in over 10.2 minutes per game.
As a sophomore, her role diminished, appearing in 15 games without any starts and averaging approximately five minutes per game.

She joins a Panthers squad that finished 11–19 overall, 7–11 in the conference, under Head Coach Jesyka Burks-Wiley.
Fellow national team member Rhema Collins, a 6’2″ forward, also joined the Panthers this offseason after transferring from Ole Miss.

CONCACAF PRESIDENT VISITS THE BAHAMAS
The Bahamas Football Association hosted the region’s top official in the sport as a part of his organization’s community outreach.
CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani was in The Bahamas last week as part of his regional outreach ahead of the upcoming FIFA Congress.

Montagliani met with BFA President Anya James, General Secretary Fred Lunn, and the BFA Council to discuss strategic plans for football development, regional collaboration, and future hosting opportunities across The Bahamas and the wider Caribbean.
The visit also included a high-level meeting with Youth, Sports, and Culture Minister Mario Bowleg, where discussions centered on enhancing football infrastructure and creating more pathways for youth and elite players throughout the country.

EXECUTIVES LOOK FORWARD TO A COMPETITIVE TOURNAMENT
In local soccer, anticipation continues to build for the Samuel P. Haven High School Nationals as the top teams in the country prepare to take the pitch.
The bragging rights and national title hopes are up for grabs, and schools throughout the islands and in their respective divisions are already looking forward to raising the trophy.

In the Senior Girls division, the Lyford Cay Dragons are the defending champions after they defeated the St. Andrew’s Hurricanes.
In Senior Boys play, Windsor School won the title in their tournament debut in thrilling fashion—over Anatol Rodgers on penalties.

Sandre Hobbs – Convener, BAISS Soccer
“We are looking forward to a great competition. Yes, we love the public schools, but we want to retain the championship in BAISS, so we are looking forward to this great competition.”