Eights football tourney enters decisive week

Muscat, Jan 10
The 2026 Government Institutions Eights Football Championship, organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth (MoCSY), continues on Sunday evening with eight matches in the second week of the group stage, as attention turns to decisive encounters that will shape the teams qualifying for the knockout rounds.
In Group 1, the National Centre for Statistics and Information will face the Authority for Projects, Tenders and Local Content, while the University of Technology and Applied Sciences take on the Ministry of Finance.
Group 2 features a strong clash between the Ministry of Energy and Minerals and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, alongside a match between the Civil Aviation Authority and Muscat Municipality.
In Group 3, the Central Bank of Oman will meet the Ministry of Labour, while the Social Protection Fund face the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs.
The day’s action concludes in Group 4 with the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology taking on the Ministry of Information, and University Medical City facing the Ministry of Education.
Excitement continues the following day, Tuesday, with eight matches in the final round of the group stage. In Group 5, the Shura Council will meet Royal Court Affairs, while the Authority for Public Services Regulation take on the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning.
In Group 6, the Ministry of Social Development will face the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, while the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism play the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority.
Group 7 will see the State Audit Institution take on the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, alongside a match between the Environment Authority and the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority.
The group stage will conclude in Group 8 with the Diwan of the Royal Court facing the Supreme Judicial Council, and the National Records and Archives Authority playing the Ministry of Interior.
All matches will be held at Al Amal Sports Club Stadium between 6:30 pm and 9:10 pm.
Group Standings
In Group 1, the Ministry of Finance lead the standings with six points and a perfect defensive record. The National Centre for Statistics and Information, and the University of Technology and Applied Sciences sit second and third with three points each, while the Authority for Projects, Tenders and Local Content remain bottom without a point.
Group 2 is topped by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth with six points, ahead of Muscat Municipality, with the Civil Aviation Authority in third and the Ministry of Energy and Minerals fourth.
In Group 3, a tight battle is unfolding at the top, with the Ministry of Labour leading on six points, ahead of the Central Bank of Oman on goal difference, while the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs and the Social Protection Fund have yet to register a point.
Group 4 sees the Ministry of Information at the summit with four points, followed by the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology with two points each, while University Medical City sit fourth.
In Group 5, Royal Court Affairs top the group with a perfect record, ahead of the Authority for Public Services Regulation and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, while the Shura Council are at the bottom.
In Group 6, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources lead with six points, followed by the Ministry of Social Development, and the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority in fourth.
Group 7 is headed by the State Audit Institution, with four points, ahead of the Environment Authority, and the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, while the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority sit in fourth place.
In Group 8, both the Diwan of the Royal Court, and the Supreme Judiciary Council share the lead with six points each, while the Ministry of Interior and the National Records and Archives Authority remain without points.