MUSCAT, JULY 1
The Oman national football team will travel on Tuesday to Spain as part of their actual technical preparations to secure a historic spot in the forthcoming qualification of AFC Asian Qualifiers which will lead to road to Fifa Word Cup 2026 that will kick off in September.
Red Warriors players had an internal training session at ROP field in Al Seeb on Tuesday ahead of their travel to Spain. The external camp in Spain will run from July 3 to 24. The 22 days abroad gathering will be a key preparatory destination for the team ahead of the deciding qualifiers start.
Oman football coach Jaroslav Silhavy will aim to achieve the dream of the Omani fans as everyone is optimistic after the draw declaration last week. Oman National football team were drawn in a balanced group when they were grouped alongside with South Korea, Iraq, Jordan, Palestine and Kuwait in group B.
Oman will commence their campaign in the Asian qualifiers with an away match against Iraq in Basra city on September 5, before hosting South Korea in a key game on September 10. Then, Red Warriors will have a gulf match against Kuwait on October 10 in Muscat and it will be followed by Jordan clash on October 15 in Amman city. The first leg matches will be concluded with a match against Palestine on November 14.
Group B will comprise from AFC Asian Cup champions Qatar beside the top seeds Iran, Uzbekistan, United Arab Emirates, Kyrgyzstan and North Korea. The tough challenge will be in group C which is comprised from Asian heavyweights Japan, who are seeking to qualify for the Fifa World Cup 2026 for the eighth consecutive time, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, China and Indonesia.
The first two toppers from each of the three groups will secure direct spots at the Fifa World Cup 2026, while the third and fourth placed teams from each group, six in total, will progress to the AFC Asian Qualifiers — Road to 26 Playoff, to be contested in two groups of three teams in a single round robin format, with both group winners qualifying for the global showpiece. The two second-placed finishers from the Playoff will face off in a home and away tie to earn the right to reach the Intercontinental Playoff and vie for the final available berth. The Qualifiers games will kick off on September 5 with the final round of matches scheduled for June 10, 2025.
OMAN SQUAD: Ibrahim al Mukhaini, Fayez al Rushedi, Ahmed al Rawahi, Ibrahim al Rajhi, Ahmed al Khamisi, Mohammed al Musallami, Khalid al Buraiki, Ghanim al Habshi, Ali al Busaidy, Ahmed al Kaabi, Amjad al Harthy, Abdulaziz al Shmoosi, Harib al Saadi, Abdullah Fawaz, Salah al Yahyaei, Omar al Malki, Zaher al Aghbari, Arshad al Alawi, Jameel al Yahmadi, Abdulrahman al Mushefri, Musaab al Maamari, Mohsin al Ghassani, Essam al Subhi, Nasser al Rawahi, Mohammed al Ghafri, Sultan al Marzooq, Khalid al Ghatrefi, Jawad al Azi and Mohammed Humaid al Ghafri.
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