Oman Bows to Iraq in World Cup Qualifiers 2026

Oman's hopes of progressing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers were dashed on Friday as they suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Iraq in their opening match

Despite a spirited performance, Oman was unable to find the back of the net and ultimately paid the price for their missed opportunities

The match, which was played at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Muscat, saw Iraq take the lead in the 25th minute through a goal from forward Alaa Abbas

Oman pushed for an equalizer but found the Iraqi defense resolute and were unable to create any clear-cut chances

The result leaves Oman bottom of Group A, with Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Uzbekistan all picking up victories in their opening matches

Oman will now need to regroup and prepare for their next match against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, September 20

With Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan both seen as strong contenders to qualify for the World Cup, Oman will need to improve their performance if they are to have any chance of progressing

The defeat is a blow to Oman's hopes of reaching the World Cup for the first time since 2006

However, with four matches still to play in the group stage, Oman will be determined to bounce back and secure a place in the next round