FIBA Europe Cup: Full Matchday Preview
The FIBA Europe Cup offers another route to continental competition, with established clubs, ambitious newcomers and plenty of opportunities for emerging players to make an impact.
The 2026–27 edition is particularly significant because the competition has expanded to 48 teams, up from 40 in previous seasons. The Regular Season is split into eight groups of six, with each team playing every other side in its group home and away. The top two from each group will progress to the Second Round.
The opening round begins on Tuesday, October 6, before the remaining Matchday 1 fixtures are played on Wednesday, October 7. With the field now confirmed following the Qualifiers, teams will be looking to make an immediate impression as the race for the knockout stages begins.
What Are The FIBA Europe Cup Matchday 1 Fixtures?
Matchday 1 of the 2026–27 Regular Season features 32 games across Tuesday and Wednesday, with the first fixtures tipping off on October 6. Times below are converted to UK time where appropriate and can vary with local daylight-saving arrangements.
The latest FIBA Europe Cup fixtures are:
Tuesday, October 6:
NHSZ-Szolnoki Olajbanyasz vs Zastal Zielona Gora – 5pm
Tartu Ulikool Maks & Moorits vs Dziki Warszawa – 5pm
Mykonos vs Neftci – 5pm
Patrioti Levice vs. Filou Oostende – 6pm
MZT Skopje Aerodrom vs Iraklis – 6pm
Yukatel Denizli Basket vs Prievidza – 6pm
FIATC Girona vs Dinamo Bucuresti – 6:45pm
SLUC Nancy vs Vienna – 7pm
Wednesday, October 7
Kolossos H Hotels vs SCM Universitatea Craiova – 4pm
Absheron Lions vs Lions de Geneve – 4pm
Opava vs Split – 5pm
Esenler Erokspor vs Gence – 5pm
Keravnos vs BC Parnu – 5pm
Petrolina AEK Larnaca vs Fitness First Wurzburg Baskets – 5pm
VEF Riga vs Lokomotiv Plovdiv – 5pm
CSM CSU Raiffeisen Oradea vs Fribourg Olympic – 5pm
Trepca vs Promitheas Patras – 5:30pm
Bigbank/Kalev vs Biotekno Korfez Basket – 5:30pm
Bakken Bears vs SL Benfica – 5:30pm
King Szczecin vs Nitra Blue Wings – 6pm
Bashkimi vs Valmiera Glass ViA – 6pm
VET-CONCEPT Gladiators Trier vs Batumi – 7pm
Elan Chalon vs Manchester Basketball – 7pm
Sporting CP vs Rilski Sportist – 7:30pm
These fixtures represent the first competitive games of the Regular Season for the 48-team field. Notably, Manchester Basketball are representing Great Britain in Group F, while Sporting CP face Rilski Sportist in one of Wednesday’s most interesting Group C contests.
The group-stage schedule will continue through December, with the top two teams from each six-team group advancing to the Second Round.
FIBA Europe Cup Matchday 1: Game of the Week Preview
One of the most intriguing opening-night match-ups in Group C sees Sporting CP take on Rilski Sportist. Sporting enter the competition as one of Portugal’s representatives, while Rilski Sportist arrive from Bulgaria after competing in the Basketball Champions League qualification rounds.
Rilski bring considerable European experience to the fixture. However, Shannon Evans should not be considered part of this particular match-up, having joined Promitheas Patras for the 2026–27 campaign rather than Rilski.
Instead, the key question will be how the two teams look to impose their preferred tempo and generate efficient scoring opportunities against organised half-court defences. The battle to control the pace of the game could prove particularly important in determining which side gains the early advantage.
Sporting will face further challenges in Group C, with Kolossos H Hotels, Esenler Erokspor, SCM Universitatea Craiova and Gence BC completing the group. Rilski, meanwhile, are among the clubs who entered the FIBA Europe Cup pathway after competing in the Basketball Champions League qualifying rounds.
What Were The FIBA Europe Cup Matchday 1 Results?
At the time of publication, Matchday 1 of the 2026–27 FIBA Europe Cup is taking place on October 6 and 7, so the full set of results is not yet available.
The latest FIBA Europe Cup results are:
The latest results and statistics should therefore be checked after the games have been completed rather than using projected scores or results from a different season.
Bet on the FIBA Europe Cup at Bet442
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