Oman national football team (ranked 72nd in the world) will likely have good chances to secure slot for the concluding round of the Fifa World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027, as Oman were drawn against Kyrgyz Republic (ranked 97th), Malaysia (ranked 136th), Chinese Taipei (ranked 153rd)/Timor Leste (ranked 192nd) in group D of the draw.
The official draw was conducted at the Asian Football Confederation headquarters in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.
Red Warriors will begin their campaign in the Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 2 for the Fifa World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 with a match against Chinese Taipei or Timor Leste on November 16 in Muscat, then the team will travel to Bishkek city to meet Kyrgyzstan in away game on November 21.
Then, Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex will be the venue for Oman and Malaysia clash on March 21, 2024. In the following five days, Red Warriors will take on Malaysia in away match in Kuala Lumpur city on March 26 before playing against Chinese Taipei or Timor Leste on June 6, 2024. Oman team will conclude their qualifiers campaign with hosting Kyrgyzstan on June 11, 2024 in Muscat.
The group matches will be based in round-robin format including home-and-away games. All the matches will be played during November 2023 and will conclude in June 2024.
The group winners from all the nine groups beside the runners-up will advance to the third round of World Cup qualifying. Meanwhile, all the qualified teams will confirm their presence in the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027.
The draw for the concluding round of the global showpiece in 2026 will take place in 2024. The progressed 18 teams will be divided into three groups comprised from six teams in each group. The top two teams from each group will qualify directly for the Fifa World Cup 2026. The fifth Asian seat in the global showpiece event will be based on the fourth round of World Cup qualifying with an intercontinental play-off.
For the rest groups of the Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 2 for the Fifa World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027, Qatar topped group A alongside to India, Kuwait and the winners of the between Afghanistan or Mongolia while Japan will vie in Group B beside Syria, DPR Korea and Myanmar/Macau teams.
Korea Republic are placed in group C with China PR, Thailand and Singapore/Guam while Oman topped group D alongside Kyrgyz Republic, Malaysia and Chinese Taipei/Timor-Leste teams.
Iran will eye for a berth in group E as they will compete against Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Hong Kong/Bhutan. Iraq will see Vietnam, Philippines and Indonesia/Brunei Darussalam in Group F.
Saudi Arabia led group G which comprised from Jordan, Tajikistan and Cambodia/Pakistan while United Arab Emirates are placed in group H beside Bahrain, Yemen/Sri Lanka and Nepal/Laos. Australia will vie for booking a berth in group I as they will meet Palestine, Lebanon and Maldives/Bangladesh. (With inputs from AFC)
Group A: Qatar, India, Kuwait, Afghanistan/Mongolia
Group B: Japan, Syria, DPR Korea, Myanmar/Macau
Group C: Korea Republic, China PR, Thailand, Singapore/Guam
Group D: Oman, Kyrgyz Republic, Malaysia, Chinese Taipei/Timor-Leste
Group E: IR Iran, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Hong Kong/Bhutan
Group F: Iraq, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia/Brunei Darussalam
Group G: Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Tajikistan, Cambodia/Pakistan
Group H: UAE, Bahrain, Yemen/Sri Lanka, Nepal/Laos
Group I: Australia, Palestine, Lebanon, Maldives/Bangladesh
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