Sweden defeats Finland in FIBA World Cup qualifier

The Finnish national basketball team, Susijengi, suffered a significant home defeat against Sweden in the opening match of the FIBA World Cup qualifying group stage. The match ended in an 81–86 victory for Sweden, marking Finland's first home loss against a team ranked outside the FIBA top 30 since 2020.

Sweden's victory was led by NBA player Pelle Larsson of the Miami Heat, who scored 31 points. The Swedish team utilized a direct offensive style through ball screens that proved difficult for Finland's perimeter defense to contain. While Sweden has faced challenges in their qualifying campaign, they entered the match following three consecutive wins against Estonia, the Czech Republic, and Slovenia.

For Finland, the loss is a setback in their path toward next year's World Cup. Star player Lauri Markkanen struggled during the game, recording one of his weaker performances in recent international play.