Muscat: The group stage of the 2026 Government Institutions Eights Football Championship officially began on Sunday evening, organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth (MoCSY), with eight matches played at Al Amal Sports Club Stadium. The opening round saw strong spectator attendance and lively engagement from representatives of the participating institutions, marking an enthusiastic start that reflects the growing importance of this tournament on the government’s sporting calendar.
The first day produced a range of results that highlighted the close competitive levels across teams. In Group 1, the National Centre for Statistics & Information defeated the University of Technology and Applied Sciences 2–1, while the Ministry of Finance secured a 1–0 victory over the Authority of Projects, Tenders & Local Content.
In Group 2, the Civil Aviation Authority and the Ministry of Energy and Minerals drew 2–2, whereas MoCSY claimed a narrow 1–0 win against Muscat Municipality, propelling the ministry’s team to the top of the group after the opening round.
Group 3 saw the Ministry of Labour continue their strong form with a comprehensive 4–0 victory over the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs, and the Central Bank of Oman outplayed the Social Protection Fund 3–0, underscoring both teams’ ambitions to qualify.
In Group 4, matches were tightly contested: the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology drew 1–1 with University Medical City, and the Ministry of Information and the Ministry of Education played out an exciting 2–2 draw, with end-to-end action until the final minutes.
These results signal a strong opening to the championship, which features 32 teams divided into eight groups in a competitive format designed to foster sporting interaction among government employees and support MoCSY’s vision of promoting community sport within the workplace.
In this context, Ibrahim al Shibli, championship director, affirmed that the second edition has begun with excellent organisation, attendance, and level of competition. He explained that the tournament was officially launched on December 24, 2025 under the auspices of Basil al Rawas, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth for Sports and Youth, with wide participation from government institutions. Thirty-two organisations were drawn into eight groups of four, and early impressions from participating teams have been overwhelmingly positive, especially from newcomers.
The organising committee introduced several improvements this year, including the appointment of specialist referees and technical support from the Oman Football Association, aimed at enhancing professionalism and match quality. The championship will continue until January 28, with high expectations of even more intense competition following the extensive preparation efforts made by the participating institutions.
Similarly, Mohammed al Brashdi from the Ministry of Information highlighted that the tournament offers a significant opportunity to enhance competition and interaction among ministry employees. He noted his team’s diligent preparation despite work-related challenges and affirmed their aim to perform well and compete strongly for advancement. He stressed that the championship not only showcases athletic performance but also strengthens bonds and camaraderie among government staff.
The group stage continues in the coming days, with great anticipation for more exciting and competitive matches as teams strive toward success in the second edition of the Government Institutions Eights Football Championship.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
