
Rasheed calls up 34 players for domestic camp in Muscat
Oman head coach, Rasheed Jaber, has called up 34 probables for the forthcoming domestic camp which will take place on Wednesday and will run until June. The camp is part of the team's preparatory program for the deciding matches in the third stage of 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers. In June, Red Warriors will play the two decisive remaining matches against Jordan in Muscat on June 5 while the following encounter against Palestine on June 10 in an away match in Jordan.
The released squad of the Red Warriors included for the first time presence of Oman's player at Spain's UE Sant Andreu SC Tariq al Saadi after following Oman head coach visit to Spain in last April. The announced list of the national team featured availability of five professional players including: Mohsin al Ghassani (Bangkok United SC), Essam al Subhi (Iraq's Al Quwa Al Jawiya), Salah al Yahyaei (Bahrain's Al Khalidiya SC), Al Mundher al Alawi (Al Zawra Club) and Tariq al Saadi (Spain's UE Sant Andreu SC).
The upcoming camp will feature two friendly games as the national football team will take on Niger in a preparatory match on May 20 in Muscat and it will be followed with another warm up game against Lebanon on May 28. The Sultanate of Oman's football team managed to boost their hopes for both automatic and playoff spot qualification to the 2026 Fifa World Cup following their essential 1-0 win over the hosts Kuwait and the last draw against South Korea in last March. Oman's currently in fourth place with 10 points from eight matches and a six points gap with group topper South Korea with two rounds remaining.
OMAN PROBABLES:
Ibrahim al Mukhaini, Thani al Rushedi, Ghanim al Habshi, Amjad al Kaabi, Harib al Saadi, Abdullah Fawaz, Ahed al Mashakheyi, Hussain al Shahri, Ahmed al Khamisi, Ali al Busaidi, Amjad al Harthi, Zaher al Aghbari, Arshad al Alawi, Jameel al Yahmadi, Abdulrahman al Mushaifri, Abdulmalik al Badri, Majid al Saadi, Khalid al Buraiki, Yousef al Malki, Mohammed al Ghafri, Hatim al Roushdi, Mulham al Sunaidy, Musab al Shaqsi, Mohammed Abdulhakeem, Abdulsalam al Sukhaili, Fayez al Rushaidi, Sultan al Marzooq, Hamed al Habsi, Essa al Naabi, Al Mundher al Alawi, Salah al Yahyaei, Tariq al Saadi, Mohsin al Ghassani and Essam al Subhi.

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Observer
14 hours ago
- Observer
Red Warriors gear up for Türkiye WC Camp
MUSCAT, AUG 16 Oman's national football team, the Red Warriors, will embark on an important stage of their preparation journey as they will travel to Türkiye on Wednesday for a week-long external training camp. The camp, announced earlier by head coach Carlos Queiroz during his first press conference, will form a critical part of the build-up to the decisive AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to 2026. The Türkiye camp will run for seven days, after which the squad will fly directly to Uzbekistan to take part in the upcoming Central Asian Football Association (CAFA) Nations League 2025, scheduled to kick off from August 26 to September 9. Oman has been drawn in Group A alongside host nation Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan. Group B consists of Iran, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and India, following Malaysia's withdrawal. According to Hussain al Zadjali, a member of the national team's administrative staff, discussions are ongoing with several Turkish clubs to arrange friendly matches during the camp. Among the proposed fixtures is a friendly scheduled for August 26, though official confirmation from the Turkish side is still awaited. Such matches will provide Oman with valuable competitive exposure and help head coach Queiroz further evaluate his squad under match conditions. The Portuguese tactician, who was recently appointed as the Red Warriors' head coach and technical manager, is expected to announce his second squad for the camp following the completion of the first round of the Oman Elite League, which commenced on Saturday. This timing may allow him to observe local players in competitive action before finalising his choices. However, the camp in Türkiye will not feature some of Oman's overseas-based professional players. Striker Mohsin al Ghassani, currently playing in Thailand for the Bangkok United club, will not join the camp due to club commitments. Midfielder Al Munther al Alawi, a key figure for Jordan's Al Wahdat, is also unavailable, alongside Khalid al Buraiki and Abdulrahman al Mushefri, both of whom are plying their trade with FC Artis Brno in the Czech Republic. Their absence, though significant, will open the door for young local talents to impress Queiroz and stake a claim for a spot in the final roster for the qualifiers. The Turkish camp is being seen as a vital stepping stone in Oman's broader strategy to build momentum ahead of the crucial AFC qualifiers in October, where the national team will face Qatar and the United Arab Emirates in Group A matches hosted in Doha in the coming October. Coach Queiroz already underlined the importance of instilling discipline, tactical awareness and physical readiness in the squad. The Türkiye camp will therefore focus not only on fitness and tactical drills but also on strengthening team cohesion, especially as the squad will continue to integrate new faces from the Olympic team. As the countdown to the qualifiers is underway, the Red Warriors' preparations are steadily intensifying. The Türkiye camp will represent an opportunity for the squad to test themselves, refine their strategies and align with Queiroz's vision as Oman will seek to achieve the dream of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in history.


Times of Oman
10-08-2025
- Times of Oman
Different situations for La Liga's top-four clubs in new season
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Muscat Daily
09-08-2025
- Muscat Daily
Queiroz faces tough test with Oman's WC hopes on the line
Muscat – Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz will lead Oman in the decisive fourth round of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the national team aiming for its first-ever appearance in the tournament. Oman will compete in Group A alongside Qatar and the UAE. The first match is scheduled for October 8 against hosts Qatar in Doha, followed by a face-off with the UAE at the same venue. Queiroz, 71, has coached Portugal, Colombia, Iran and South Africa, in addition to stints with Real Madrid and as assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. He led Iran to two World Cups and Egypt to the Africa Cup of Nations final in 2021. Sports analyst Hilal bin Hamad al Mukhaini described Queiroz as a 'big name in the world of coaching' with 'extensive and diverse experience with international teams'. He told ONA the appointment was an important step but stressed it must be backed by 'hard work and sufficient time for the coach to implement his technical ideas'. Former Oman captain Fawzi Bashir said the appointment was a 'successful decision' by Oman Football Association. 'He is no stranger to the region, having worked with Gulf clubs and national teams. This gives him an advantage in understanding the nature of the Gulf player,' he said. Former Oman captain Fawzi Bashir Bashir added that the qualifying campaign would require 'integrated work from the technical, administrative and medical staff, as well as from the fans', with the greatest responsibility on the players. Sports journalist Walid bin Zaher al Abri said the change was needed after recent below-par performances, including a 3-0 defeat to Kyrgyzstan. 'When we talk about Queiroz, we're talking about a coach with a leadership personality and extensive experience.' Abri explained that Queiroz has the ability to bring a technical shift in the national team, but faces significant challenges, particularly in familiarising himself with the players. 'This is complicated by the distinct environment of the Omani team compared to his previous assignments with Iran, Colombia and Egypt – teams with strong leagues and many players active in Europe.' Sports analyst Hilal bin Hamad al Mukhaini He added that the Omani league is comparatively underdeveloped and the national team has an older average age, both of which present further challenges for Queiroz to overcome. According to football coach Nasser bin Mohammed al Hajri, the change came with 'some risk' but was necessary. 'In my opinion, he is the most suitable. He has sufficient technical experience and understands the game in the Gulf region,' he said, add-ing that assistant coach Hamad al Azani's knowledge of the players would help bridge Queiroz's lack of direct familiarity.