Hidayet Turkoglu, president of the Turkish Basketball Federation and a member of the FIBA Hall of Fame, is set to visit Doha as Qatar approaches the 300-day countdown to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027. The visit, organized at the invitation of the tournament’s Local Organizing Committee, will feature events including the unveiling of the Tissot Countdown Clock and engagements with students from the Qatar Turkish School as well as local basketball fans.

Turkoglu, one of Turkey’s most prominent basketball figures, was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2026, becoming the first Turkish player to receive this honor. His playing career includes significant achievements such as helping Türkiye secure silver medals at the 2001 FIBA EuroBasket and the 2010 FIBA Basketball World Cup, which was hosted in Türkiye. In the NBA, Turkoglu played for 15 seasons, notably reaching the 2009 NBA Finals with the Orlando Magic and earning the NBA Most Improved Player award for the 2007–08 season.

Since retiring from professional basketball in 2015, Turkoglu has transitioned into sports administration. He was elected president of the Turkish Basketball Federation in 2016 and continues to lead the organization. His upcoming visit aims to connect Qatar’s basketball community with one of Türkiye’s most successful athletes, providing inspiration to young players as anticipation grows for the 2027 World Cup.

Scheduled from August 27 to September 12, 2027, the tournament will be hosted entirely in Doha, marking the first time the event takes place in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. A total of 32 national teams will compete in what is set to be a landmark event for basketball in the region. Türkiye has already qualified for the tournament, securing its spot as the first nation to do so after an undefeated run through the European Qualifiers.