Latest news with #NationsLeague2025
Observer
2 days ago
- Sport
- 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.
Observer
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Observer
Oman drop two spots in Fifa ranking for July
MUSCAT: The national football team dropped two positions in the latest Fifa World Rankings which was released on Thursday. Red Warriors placed at the 79th globally with 1323.91 points compared to 81st position and 1314.41 points in the previous rankings published earlier this year. The updated standings reflect the outcomes of Oman's recent performances in the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to 2026, where the Red Warriors faced two crucial encounters that shaped their campaign. Despite a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Jordan in Muscat, the team bounced back in dramatic style as they secured a 1-1 draw against Palestine in their final Group B match, thanks to a late penalty equaliser from striker Issam al Subhi. That decisive goal ensured Oman's progression to the playoff round and keeping their World Cup hopes alive. The team's initially scheduled a comprehensive domestic training camp in Salalah from July 1 to 19, aimed at refining the squad's readiness for the next phase. However, the Oman Football Association (OFA) recently announced the postponement of this camp. In an official statement issued on July 1, the OFA explained that the postponement decision was made in light of an ongoing comprehensive technical and administrative review conducted by its Technical Committee. This internal evaluation is part of the association's broader goal to enhance the quality of work and planning across the national teams. The review includes studying the past performance strategy, assessing the outcomes of the last qualification phase, and aligning the next steps with long-term development objectives for Omani football. The OFA emphasised that this measure is intended to maximise preparation and readiness ahead of major upcoming competitions. Despite the delay in domestic preparations, Oman team still will have a significant international assignment before the playoff stage resumes. The national team is set to participate in the CAFA (Central Asian Football Association) Nations League 2025, a friendly international tournament scheduled from August 26 to September 9, co-hosted by Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Oman drawn into Group A alongside the hosts Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan, while Group B featured Iran, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Malaysia. The tournament is expected to provide vital competitive exposure especially as Oman will face teams with varying tactical strengths and styles. The Red Warriors previously took part in the 2023 edition of the CAFA Nations League and are expected to leverage that experience to field a well-prepared squad for this year's edition. All eyes are on the playoff draw which is scheduled to take place on July 17 as Oman will discover their opponent in the final stage of the Asian qualifiers. The playoff round will offer two direct additional qualification spots for the 2026 Fifa World Cup, to be hosted jointly by Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Observer
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Observer
Red Warriors in Group A in Asian Nations League
MUSCAT, July 3 The Oman national football team clubbed with Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan in Group A of the CAFA (Central Asian Football Association) Nations League 2025. The draw of the Asian event took place on Thursday in Dushanbe city, Tajikistan. The tournament will be co-hosted in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan during August 26 to September 9. The Oman Football Association confirmed participation of the national team in the upcoming CAFA Nations League 2025. This marks Oman's second consecutive appearance in the tournament, following their participation in the inaugural edition in 2023. The 2025 edition will see the tournament co-hosted by Uzbekistan and Tajikistan with eight teams divided into two groups. Oman will vie for a slot for the knockout stage as they compete in Group A alongside Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan while in group which will feature Iran, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Malaysia teams. Oman, a member of the West Asian Football Federation (WAFF), continue to build on its international presence by taking part in this regional competition against member nations from the Central Asian Football Association, as well as other invited teams. Malaysia, representing the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF), join as a special invitee, replacing Russia following their withdrawal from the tournament. The CAFA Nations League is part of the broader objective to increase competitive exposure for participating teams. In the 2023 inaugural edition, Iran emerged as champions after defeating hosts Uzbekistan 1-0 in the final. Oman's participation in the tournament are inline with the team's extended preparation strategy ahead of the next critical round of the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to 2026 as the Red Warriors will aim to secure one of the remaining playoff spots for the global showpiece. On the other hand, the coaching staff are working for an alternative camp as the scheduled domestic camp in Salalah for July postponed for a comprehensive technical and administrative review by the OFA's technical committee. According to OFA, the review will include complete evaluation on the previous phase, examining past performance strategies, and assessing outcomes to ensure the best possible preparation for the upcoming period.
The Hindu
19-06-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Asian football: Malaysia, Oman set to participate in CAFA Nations Cup 2025 as guest teams
Malaysia and Oman have been officially invited as guest nations to take part in the CAFA (Central Asian Football Association) Nations League 2025, scheduled to take place from August 26 to September 9. Malaysia (under the ASEAN Football Federation) and Oman (under the West Asian Football Federation) will compete with Central Asian teams like Iran, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Afghanistan. ALSO READ: No ISL in Indian football's 2025-26 calendar — AIFF excludes Indian Super League from next season's schedule The tournament will be co-hosted by Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. Russia was initially expected to participate as a guest team but declined the invitation. The inaugural edition of the CAFA Nations League took place in 2023 where Iran beat Uzbekistan 1-0 to clinch the title.
Mint
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Mint
Cristiano Ronaldo opens up about his retirement after Portugal's win in Nations League 2025
Cristiano Ronaldo opened up about his retirement plans after Portugal clinched the UEFA Nations League title. Ronaldo was seen in tears after Portugal beat Spain 5-3 in a penalty shootout at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany. Ronaldo scored a crucial goal in the summit clash of the Nations League 2025. The 40-year-old's goal in the 61st minute helped his team to equalise the score 2-2. After the match ended in a draw even after extra time, the game turned more dramatic as Portugal defeated Spain on penalty shootout. Portugal players secured a famous 5-3 win on penalties. Penalty 1: Portugal – Goncalo Ramos – Goal Penalty 1: Spain – Mikel Merino – Goal Penalty 2: Portugal – Vitinha – Goal Penalty 2: Spain – Alex Baena – Goal Penalty 3: Portugal – Bruno Fernandes – Goal Penalty 3: Spain – Isco – Goal Penalty 4: Portugal – Nuno Mendes – Goal Penalty 4: Spain – Alvaro Morata – Miss Penalty 5: Portugal – Ruben Neves – Goal Cristiano Ronaldo looked very emotional after Portugal's win. After the match, the star player shared a major update on his retirement. It is to be noted that Ronaldo will turn 41 at the time of FIFA World Cup 2026 and there have been speculations on his return. "You know how old I am already. I am closer to the end than I was at the beginning, but I have to enjoy every moment. If I don't get seriously injured, I'll keep going," Ronaldo expressed to the reporters. 'I have many titles with my clubs, but nothing is better than winning for Portugal. These are tears. It's mission accomplished and so much joy," Ronaldo said. Ronaldo also revealed that he carried an injury into the summit clash against Spain. 'I had already felt it during the warmup, I had been feeling it for some time, but for the national team, if I had to break my leg, I would have broken it," Ronaldo said. "It's for a trophy, I had to play and gave it my all," he added. 'I have lived in many countries, I have played for many clubs, but when it's about Portugal, it is always a special feeling,' he concluded. Portugal win their first Nations League title in the inaugural season - 2019. They defeated the Netherlands 1-0 in the final clash back then.
