France set the tone in Paris
France opened the second round of the European qualifiers for the 2027 World Cup with a decisive 92-67 win over Slovenia at the Accor Arena in Paris (Bercy), a game settled early in which Victor Wembanyama needed just 21 minutes to post 22 points, 9 rebounds and a block.
The French center was efficient inside, controlled the glass and helped build a 31-17 lead after the first quarter and 54-35 at halftime, with a margin that stretched to nearly 30 points. The final score and the individual numbers, including 5-for-5 on two-pointers and 9-for-10 from the line, were outlined by Piratas del Basket and Mundo Deportivo — Baloncesto as a reflection of the hosts' dominance in the opening window.
Supporting cast and missing star
Beyond Wembanyama, Matthew Strazel added 13 points and playmaking, while Rudy Gobert and fellow bigs contributed inside to keep the defensive level high. Slovenia, coached by Aleksander Sekulic and without Luka Doncic in this window, struggled to find consistent scoring to cut the deficit after the break.
The result gives France a strong start to this qualifying phase and underlines Wembanyama's role as the interior focal point heading into the next FIBA window fixtures.
