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.