The next World Cup is two years away but the fever has already started, especially for countries like the Sultanate of Oman which have high chances of making it to the tournament this time.
The Fifa World Cup 26, which will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026, jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, will be the first hosted by three nations and the first North American World Cup since 1994.
Apart from its reputation as a competitive team from the region or even in Asia, the Sultanate of Oman can fancy its chances because for the first time, the tournament finals will include 48 teams.
The interaction of His Highness Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham al Said, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, with the national team players and expressing confidence ahead of the first qualifiers match was certainly a kind of morale boost that the team needs.
It is no coincidence that this editorial appears ahead of Oman’s second match against South Korea today.
Even as we keep our fingers crossed with some crucial matches still to be played, a ticket to North America is no longer elusive but a possibility.
The team playing in the World Cup does not just displays its individual players, but also its country, its people, its culture, its economic growth, and more importantly, coming of age on a global platform.
Oman has been no pushover in the world of football and its impact in a World Cup can be easily more inspiring than the way Cameroon entertained fans in 1990 or the spirited Morocco in 2022.
The Red Warriors, as they are called, won the Gulf Cup twice in 2009 and 2017, apart from reaching the finals multiple finals. They were also in the quarterfinals of the 2019 Asian Cup.
Football is in the minds and hearts of Omani citizens. All the time, they are glued to matches played in European leagues even if the matches does not involve any national players.
The World Cup played in neighbouring Qatar in 2022 had a positive impact on Oman tourism in the region and has been widely discussed in recent times.
The cooperation was mutual and so its benefits were shared amicably.
Imagine, the Red Warriors in the last 16 of the World Cup 2026 and the advertising potential it brings to promote tourism in the Sultanate of Oman that is a peaceful haven to people of many nationalities and religions.
Oman is currently competing in the third round of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) qualifiers for the Fifa World Cup 2026. They are placed in Group B, which includes strong teams such as South Korea, Iraq, Jordan, Palestine and Kuwait. As of now, Oman has faced challenges in their matches, including a recent loss to Iraq (1-0), which puts pressure on their qualification hopes.
Oman’s upcoming fixtures will be crucial. They need to secure wins against teams like Palestine and Kuwait while also aiming for points against stronger opponents like South Korea and Iraq. The ability to capitalise on home advantage and perform well under pressure will be vital for Oman’s chances.
Historically, Oman has been a competitive team within the AFC but has never qualified for a Fifa World Cup. Their performance in the second round of qualifiers was commendable as they finished top of their group. However, their current form in the third round indicates that they need to improve significantly to secure one of the top two spots in their group for automatic qualification.
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