MUSCAT, NOV 4
The Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation (AGCFF) conducted the draw for the Gulf Cup Under-23 Championship on Tuesday at its headquarters in Doha, Qatar, via video-conferencing, with the participation of representatives of the Gulf national teams in addition to Iraq and Yemen.
The draw placed Oman Olympic national team in Group B alongside Iraq, the UAE and Yemen, while Group A included Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait.
Doha will host the tournament from December 4 to 16, as part of the series of competitions organised by the AGCFF, which also includes the Gulf Cup for senior national teams, and the youth and Under-17 tournaments recently held in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The GCC Champions League for clubs, played on a home-and-away basis with the participation of eight clubs, is also part of the calendar, with the final of the current edition scheduled for April 14, 2026.
The Oman Olympic team was crowned champion of the WAFF U23 Championship after defeating Jordan 3–1 in the final held in Muscat on March 26. However, the team later experienced a major setback in the Asian qualifiers for the AFC U23 Asian Cup, exiting the competition with insufficient points after a goalless draw with hosts Cambodia, followed by a 1–0 loss to Iraq, before earning a consolation win over Pakistan by a single goal. The qualifiers were held in Phnom Penh from September 3 to 9.
As part of preparations for the upcoming Gulf campaign, the Oman Olympic team will begin a domestic training camp in Muscat Governorate from November 2 to 18, as part of a long-term development plan.
Head coach Badr al Maimani confirmed that this phase is part of a broader project aimed at building a competitive team for the 2027 Olympic qualifiers, noting that the tournament will serve as an important preparatory stage in the team’s long-term development. He added that the daily training sessions will include physical and tactical work within a structured methodology designed to gradually develop the players.
For his part, player Jassar al Balushi expressed the players’ ambition to benefit as much as possible from the camp, stressing that the team aims to improve and deliver an honourable performance. He praised the significant efforts of the coaching staff led by Al Maimani and the valuable experience they provide to the players.
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