Austria began their FIBA World Cup qualifying journey with a resounding 99-63 thrashing of Albania on November 22, 2024. The Austrian offense was firing on all cylinders, reaching near the century mark in a dominant display of firepower on the road. Albania was simply overwhelmed by Austria's pace and shooting accuracy, as the visitors raced out to a large lead in the first half and never looked back. Austria shared the ball brilliantly, recording a high number of assists and getting contributions from across the roster. For Albania, the heavy defeat is a tough start to the qualification process, highlighting the gulf in class on this occasion. Austria's impressive point total and margin of victory provide an ideal start to their campaign, putting them at the top of the group standings after the first window of games.