Romania secures historic win over Greece in World Cup qualifiers

Romania has achieved a significant milestone by defeating Greece 73-66 in the qualifiers for the 2027 World Cup. This victory is particularly noteworthy as Greece is a bronze medalist from the European Championship, making the win even more impressive.

The match took place on July 2, 2026, at the Oradea Arena, where 3,000 passionate fans cheered for the Romanian team. Though Greece led at halftime with a score of 38-35 and even stretched their lead to 58-44 during the game, Romania's determination shone through in the second half.

Daron Russell played a pivotal role in the victory, scoring 20 points along with 3 rebounds and 3 assists. Other key contributors included Lucas Tohătan with 13 points and 6 assists, and Mihai Măciucă, who added 9 points and 5 rebounds. Emanuel Cățe also made a valuable contribution with 8 points and 6 rebounds.

On the opposing side, Greece's Giannoulis Larentzakis led his team with 16 points, followed by Vasilis Charalampopoulos with 13 points, and Elijah Mitrou-Long with 12 points. Kostas Papanikolau recorded a double-double with 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists.

With this victory, Romania's record in the World Cup qualifiers now stands at two wins and three losses. The team is competing in Group B, and the top three teams will advance to the next stage. Romania's final match in this phase is scheduled for July 5, 2026, against Montenegro at the Sports Center Moraca in Podgorica. This win not only boosts the team's morale but also brings them closer to their goal of qualifying for the World Cup for the first time in history.