Three Omani refereeing teams at AFC U20 Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers

MUSCAT, SEPT 4
Three refereeing teams are representing the Sultanate of Oman at the AFC U20 Asian Cup China 2027 Qualifiers, which are currently taking place across several Asian cities, highlighting the growing presence and recognition of Omani match officials at the continental level.
The three refereeing teams have been appointed to officiate matches in Groups D, H and J, involving a number of Asia’s leading football nations. Their appointments reflect the confidence placed in Omani referees and their assistants by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
Omani referee Omar bin Mubarak al Yaqoubi, alongside assistant referee Rashad al Hakmani, is officiating in Group H, which is being hosted by Laos and also features Indonesia, Malaysia and Australia. Al Yaqoubi has already taken charge of the highly competitive encounter between Australia and Laos, which Australia won 2-0. The Omani referee handled the match confidently and showed two yellow cards during the contest. He also awarded a penalty to Australia in the 13th minute after Laos player Okham Latsachak handled the ball while attempting to block a pass from Jai Rose. Marcus Neill stepped up to convert the spot-kick.
Meanwhile, Yahya bin Ahmed al Balushi and assistant referee Hamood al Shueibi are officiating in Group J, which includes hosts Bhutan, Chinese Taipei, Singapore and Macau. Al Balushi was recently in charge of the match between Macau and Singapore, with Singapore securing a narrow 1-0 victory. The match saw two yellow cards issued by the Omani official, who maintained firm control throughout the encounter.
The third Omani refereeing team consists of Said al Mezaini and assistant referee Mohammed al Ghazali, who are officiating in Group D. The group is hosted by Bahrain and also includes Jordan, Tajikistan and Afghanistan.
The participation of three Omani refereeing teams in different qualifying groups represents an important achievement for Oman’s football refereeing sector. Their involvement in the continental qualifiers further underlines Oman’s growing contribution to Asian football, not only through its national teams and clubs but also through the development of qualified referees capable of officiating high-level international competitions. It also provides valuable international experience for the officials while contributing to the continued development of Omani refereeing standards.