The Latvian national team continues its fight to qualify for the World Cup finals for the second consecutive time. In the first round of qualifiers, Latvia achieved 3 wins in their group, while Israel has 2. Both teams are currently outside the top three, which is needed to secure a spot in the finals, so every remaining game is crucial. Latvia (13th in the FIBA rankings) regained confidence after securing two victories in July following a difficult start. All of the best Latvian basketball players may be available for the August matches, making for a strong lineup. Israel is 27th in the FIBA rankings, but has traditionally been a difficult opponent—Latvia has won only 4 of their 13 previous encounters.