How to watch Boomers vs Tall Blacks WC Qualifiers

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The Australian Boomers 2027 Men's World Cup qualifiers will be without their NBA stars including Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels and head coach Adam Caporn because of the clash with the 2025-26 season in the US.

It means the core group that won the 2025 FIBA Men's Asia Cup earlier this year have the responsibility of getting the Boomers to the tournament in Qatar, facing the prospect many of them won't make that team.

Associate Boomers head coach Dean Vickerman, who has led Melbourne United to the top of the NBL ladder at the FIBA Break said: “We’ve got different dynamics compared to the Asia Cup for these windows as all players will be in-season, so selections will be based on a combination of health as well as form

"We have a lot of respect for our opponents (Tall Blacks) and we will need to find the right selection mix of prime players and rising stars."

Vickerman led the Boomers to a 2-1 series victory against the Tall Blacks in the Trans-Tasman Throwdown in May. Caporn is an assistant coach with the Washington Wizards.

Australian Boomers vs New Zealand Tall Blacks

• William "Davo" Hickey (Illawarra Hawks)
• Alex Ducas (Brisbane Bullets)
• Owen Foxwell (South East Melbourne Phoenix)
• Josh Bannan (Tasmania JackJumpers)
• Elijah Pepper (Perth Wildcats)
• Jack White (Mersin MSK)
• Dash Daniels (Melbourne United)
• Keanu Pinder (Akita Northern Happinets)
• Angus Glover (South East Melbourne Phoenix)
• Jordan Hunter (South East Melbourne Phoenix)
• Jaylin Galloway (Sydney Kings)
• Nick Kay (Shimane Susanoo Magic)
• Will Magnay (Injured: Tasmania JackJumpers)

How to watch the Boomers vs Tall Blacks Trans-Tasman World Cup Qualifiers

Both games will be broadcast live on ESPN on Foxtel, Kayo and Disney+

• Friday, November 28, 2025: 7:30pm AEDT @ MyState Bank Arena - Hobart, Tasmania
• Monday, December 1 Tip Off: 5:00pm AEDT @ TSB Arena - Wellington, Te Whanganui-a-tara

World Cup Tournament & qualification  

There are 80 national teams in four FIBA regions: Africa; Americas; Asia & Oceania; and Europe. Each competes in FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Qualifiers from November 2025 – March 2027 for just 32 spots in the 2027 FIBA Men's World Cup in Doha, Qatar.

Australia is in the Asia & Oceania region, in which 16 teams compete in the Asian Qualifiers for a total of seven spots.

Qatar has automatically qualified so this means there are six spots available via the qualifiers.

Australia's 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifiers Group

• New Zealand
• Philippines
• Guam
• Australia

Injury blow for Tasmanian Will Magnay

Tasmanian-born Will Magnay was overjoyed the Boomers would be playing in his home state but injury has ruled out the Tasmania JackJumpers bigman.

"I don't think I realised the magnitude of playing for your country at the Olympic Games, like how proud you are to represent not only your family and your friends but like everyone you've ever known. There's just nothing like it," Magnay said earlier this year.

"I wanna push this program forward and achieve the highest highs. And however we have to do that as a team — if that's me stepping up and doing more, then yes.

"If it's taking more of a back seat and being more of a bench dude, then yes. I just want this program to continue to move forward and aim for higher goals.

There's a lot of value in it, I think. It's a chance to prove you belong at a level like this. It's an opportunity for like those young fellas and sort of those role players to really carve out and sort of define their role and what they could bring to a higher level team that we bring into a World Cup."

Next man up

Western Australian centre Keanu Pinder has replaced Magnay in the line-up. Pinder is one of several Australians playing in the Japanese B.League. He plies his trade for the Akita Northern Happinets and it will be the first time he's played for Australian since the Boomers 2023 Qualification rounds.

Pinder was part of the team that won gold at the 2022 FIBA Men's Asia Cup.

"We welcome Keanu Pinder onto the Boomers roster and believe his elite skill set will be a great addition to the team,” said Vickerman.  

New Zealand Tall Blacks Team

• Taylor Britt
• Flynn Cameron
• Max Darling
• Carlin Davison
• Finn Delany
• ‍Tyrell Harrison
• Shea Ili
• Mojave King
• Izayah Le’afa
• Sam Mennenga
• Tohi Smith-Milner
• Yanni Wetzell