
Oman beach soccer team enter final phase of preparation
MUSCAT, FEB 28
The Oman national beach soccer team began their latest and serious preparations for the AFC Beach Soccer Asian Cup Thailand 2025 which will take place in Pattaya in Thailand from March 20 to 30, 2025. Sixteen players were called by veteran coach Talib Hilal for the underway domestic camp in Bausher and this gathering will feature four friendly matches against Russia and Belarus.
The camp will begin with two matches against Russia on Monday and Wednesday while the preparatory games against Belarus are scheduled on March 8 and 10. Belarus confirmed their seat at 2025 Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup in Seychelles which will start following the Asian event in May. Oman had played against Russia in 2023 in Muscat and they had received two defeats by 9-3 and 4-3. At CIS Games in Belarus, Oman met Russia twice as they won in the first game by 7-4 before they had suffered to 9-3 in the third and fourth play-off.
Oman will vie against Bahrain, Malaysia and Vietnam in Group D at AFC Beach Soccer Asian Cup Thailand 2025. The Asian event will act as qualifying event for the Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup with the top three teams earning spots for the World Cup in Seychelles in May.
The Oman team raised their warm-up sessions during the last period as they had several training sessions at the sandy court in Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex.
Oman head coach Talib Hilal affirmed in previous comments to Oman Observer that the team will work hard to compete for the Asian title in Thailand. In last January, Oman beach soccer team had played two friendly matches against Saudi Arabia. The first match ended in a 4-3 penalty shoot-out loss, while Oman secured a 3-1 victory in the second game.
Oman team players will eye to rekindle the glory of 2015 when they were crowned Asian champions and secured their place among the continent's elite beach soccer teams.
Oman Squad:
Khalid al Oraimi, Munther al Oraimi, Abdullah al Souti, Nooh al Zadjali, Mashal al Oraimi, Ahmed al Owaisi, Salim al Oraimi, Younis al Owaisi, Sami al Balushi, Yahya al Muraiki, AbdulRahman al Fazari, Musallam al Oraimi, Majid al Affari, Yousef al Zadjali, Amjad al Hamdani and Sameer al Afari.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Observer
2 days ago
- Observer
Saudi Arabia, Qatar to host 4th round of WC qualifiers
MUSCAT: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced the Qatar Football Association (QFA) and the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) as the hosts of the upcoming AFC Asian Qualifiers — Road to 26 Playoffs. The teams that qualified as third and fourth place from the last stage of the Asian qualifiers — namely, Indonesia, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates — will be divided into two groups, with each group comprising three teams. The six teams will compete in a centralised format from October 8 to 14, 2025. The group winners will secure the two remaining automatic berths at the Fifa World Cup 2026, while the second-placed teams from both groups will play against each other, with the winner advancing to the Fifa Play-off Tournament on November 13 and 18. The Official Draw is scheduled for July 17, 2025. On the other hand, the Oman Football Association (OFA) announced a statement on Thursday calling for the highest standards of transparency, fairness and integrity in the organisation and administration of regional and international football competitions. This aligns with Oman's preparations for the next phase of the AFC Asian Qualifiers — Road to the 2026 Fifa World Cup, where playoff matches will determine the remaining qualification slots in October 2025. In its official communication, the OFA stressed the importance of applying impartial and objective criteria when selecting host nations for the upcoming AFC playoff matches. The Association emphasised the need to guarantee equal opportunities for all competing teams and to safeguard their rights without exception. The OFA confirmed that it had submitted an official letter to both the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and Fifa, urging them to take clear and decisive measures that uphold competitive integrity and prevent any biased or unbalanced decision-making in the hosting process. The statement reiterated the OFA's belief in fair play and merit-based competition, calling on football's governing bodies to ensure the application of transparent procedures that reflect the spirit of the game and enhance the credibility of the qualification process. 'The OFA stands firmly for fairness and justice in football,' the statement concluded, expressing hope that the relevant authorities will respond with actions that strengthen confidence in the upcoming matches and contribute to the success of the global event.


Observer
4 days ago
- Observer
Al Subhi's late equaliser sends Oman to AFC playoff
MUSCAT: In a dramatic conclusion to their AFC Asian Qualifiers — Road to 26 campaign, Oman secured the final playoff spot thanks to a last-gasp equaliser from striker Issam al Subhi, who converted a penalty deep into stoppage time to earn a crucial 1-1 draw against Palestine on Tuesday night at King Abdullah II Stadium in Amman. Al Subhi's ice-cold finish in the 97th minute, after Mohsin al Ghassani was fouled inside the box, ensured Oman advanced to the playoff stage which will be held in coming October. The late draw kept Red Warriors hopes for qualifying to the 2026 Fifa World Cup. The result saw Oman finish fourth in Group B with eleven points while Palestine on ten points bowed out in heartbreak. Oman and Palestine players in action Oman entered the match requiring only a draw to qualify while Palestine required a win to progress. Despite the pressure and playing with ten men for over twenty minutes following Harib al Saadi's red card, Oman showed resilience and tactical discipline to snatch the result in the dying moments. Palestine took the lead in the 49th minute when Oday Kharoub headed in a corner from substitute Adamhamza Kayed and sending the home crowd into raptures. The hosts had earlier looked the more dangerous side with Michel Termanini's header hitting the bar and several long-range efforts testing Oman's defense. However, despite going a goal and a man down, Oman kept their composure and their persistence was rewarded in stoppage time when a foul on substitute Mohsin al Ghassani handed al Subhi the opportunity to level the game and it was a moment he seized to dramatic effect. Oman player controls the ball FIGHTING UNTIL END Oman's head coach Rasheed Jaber praised his team's fighting spirit and ability to bounce back: ' We knew the match would be difficult for both parties and Palestine were very well organised and dangerous in the pitch. After conceding the goal and the red card, things became more complicated. But our players showed great spirit and didn't give up. I am proud of their effort and mentality.' He added 'This team deserves to be in the next phase. Now our focus turns to the playoffs. We are determined to continue our journey toward the 2026 Fifa World Cup.' He ended With the late draw earned, Oman's path to the 2026 Fifa World Cup remains alive. The playoffs in October will offer two more coveted spots for Asian countries and Oman will eye to capture on one of these tickets.


Muscat Daily
4 days ago
- Muscat Daily
Oman keeps World Cup hopes alive with draw against Palestine
Muscat – Oman kept their 2026 FIFA World Cup hopes alive after a tense 1-1 draw against Palestine on Tuesday. This draw secured them a spot in the fourth round of Asian qualifiers. The result, achieved in the final Group B fixture, saw Oman claim the final playoff berth from the group, finishing with 11 points – just one ahead of Palestine. The national team will now join Indonesia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Saudi Arabia in the continental playoff round scheduled for October. Oman coach Rashad Jaber expressed relief after the match. 'I thank God for this draw that helped us remain in the contest. I also thank the players for their efforts. We will do our best to qualify for the World Cup,' he said. Group B concluded with South Korea and Jordan earning direct entry for the 2026 World Cup. Iraq, like Oman, progressed to the playoff stage. From the other qualifying groups, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Indonesia also made it to the final round. According to former Al Suwaiq goalkeeper and sports analyst Ali al Shiyadi, the six teams will be placed into two groups of three, with matches played in a single-round format. 'The winners of each group will secure direct qualification, while the two second-placed teams will play off for a place in the global playoff, slated for March 2026.' Based on current seedings, Qatar and Saudi Arabia are in the top tier, followed by the UAE and Iraq in the second. Oman and Indonesia make up the third seeding level. The official draw for the playoff stage will take place on July 17, and Oman could be grouped with either Qatar or Saudi Arabia, alongside one of UAE or Iraq. Across Oman, the result was met with celebration. In Ruwi, football fan Hamdan al Farsi called it 'a heroic effort'. He said, 'It was a nerve-wracking game, but the players showed heart and resilience. We are proud of them.' University student Salma al Sulaimi said the team had united the nation. 'This campaign has given us hope and excitement. We believe in this team, and we'll be supporting them all the way to the World Cup.' The squad received praise on social media for their determination and for navigating a challenging qualification campaign under pressure. With attention now shifting to the July 17 draw, Oman will aim to take the next step towards a historic first appearance at the World Cup.