14.09.2026
Nearly 25,000 spectators watched Susijengi’s World Cup qualifiers at Veikkaus Arena in Helsinki this summer
Veikkaus Arena in Helsinki welcomed almost 25,000 spectators across two home games for Finland’s men’s national basketball team, Susijengi, in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers. Both games were played in front of near-capacity crowds in the 12,500-seat arena.
On 3 July, 12,489 fans saw Finland defeat Hungary 85–77 in the First Round. Finland went on to secure a place in the Second Round, which opened in Helsinki on 27 August with a “Nordic derby” against Sweden.
A crowd of 12,401, which FIBA lists as the ninth-largest in European Qualifiers history, saw Finland build a seven-point lead in the third quarter before Sweden fought back to win 86–81.
The Second Round is played in four groups of six, with results from the First Round carried over. The top three teams in each group qualify for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 in Qatar. Qualifying continues in November 2026 and February 2027.
The attendance figures continue the strong spectator interest in international basketball in Finland that followed EuroBasket 2025, when Tampere hosted group-stage games.
__________
Source and photo: FIBA, https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/fiba-basketball-world-cup-2027-european-qualifiers