Final stages of HM Cup Hockey with eight teams begin today

MUSCAT: The final rounds of the 55th edition of the His Majesty the Sultan’s Hockey Cup kick off this evening (Sunday), featuring eight clubs that qualified from the Elite and Challenge categories: Ahli Sidab, Seeb, Al Amerat, Salalah, Qurayat, Dhofar, Sohar and Masirah. All matches will be played at the Oman Hockey Stadium in Al Amerat, leading up to the semifinals and final scheduled to take place from November 9 to 12.

The opening day will see Ahli Sidab face Masirah at 6:00 pm on Sunday, followed by an anticipated clash between Salalah and Dhofar at 8:00 pm, promising an early, high-intensity encounter. The matches continue the next day, with Seeb meeting Sohar at 6:00 pm, before Al Amerat take on Qurayat at 8:00 pm in a match expected to be closely contested.

This edition will not only feature competitive sporting action but also a rich agenda of development programmes.

On Tuesday, Ahli Sidab will play Dhofar at 6:00 pm, followed by Masirah versus Salalah at 8:00 pm. Wednesday’s fixtures will see Seeb face Qurayat at 6:00 pm, followed by Sohar meeting Al Amerat at 8:00 pm. The excitement carries into Thursday, with Dhofar playing Masirah at 6:00 pm, followed by Salalah versus Ahli Sidab at 8:00 pm. The final day of this stage will be on Friday, starting with a strong contest between Qurayat and Sohar at 6:00 pm, then Al Amerat versus Seeb at 8:00 pm, after which the picture of the four semifinalists will be determined.

This edition marks a historic milestone in terms of participation, as it is the first time that 20 clubs have taken part in the tournament. The teams were divided into two tiers: the Elite category, which included Ahli Sidab, Seeb, Al Amerat, and Salalah who qualified directly to the final rounds; while the remaining clubs competed in the Challenge category, split into four groups from which Qurayat, Dhofar, Sohar, and Masirah emerged after highly competitive qualifying rounds.

All matches will be played at the Oman Hockey Stadium in Al Amerat, leading up to the semifinals and final scheduled to take place from November 9 to 12.

In line with the Oman Hockey Association’s keenness to ensure top-quality officiating during this phase of the competition, three neutral international umpires from South Africa, Poland, and Kenya have been appointed, in addition to an Umpire Manager from Pakistan. This reflects the Association’s commitment to upholding the highest standards of integrity and professionalism in match officiating.

This edition will not only feature competitive sporting action but also a rich agenda of development programmes designed to enhance technical and umpiring capabilities within the sport. These include the National Umpiring Course (2–5 November 2025), as well as the FIH Academy Level 3 Coaching Course, with participation from 20 international coaches. Additionally, the tournament will host the FIH/AHF “Road to Los Angeles 2028” High-Performance Umpiring Course, jointly supervised by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) and the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF). This course represents a landmark initiative aimed at preparing promising Omani officials for major global events in the years ahead.