MUSCAT, OCT 22
Oman are grouped with Morocco, Lebanon and Libya in Group B at the fifth Arab Beach Soccer Championship to be held in Port Said, Egypt from November 5 to 10. The tournament will feature eight Arab national teams including the hosts and defending champions Egypt heading Group A alongside Saudi Arabia, Mauritania and Iraq. All matches will be played at the Porto Said Beach Soccer Stadium.
Oman's experienced head coach Talib Hilal said the Arab event held special memories for the team. “This tournament brings back special memories for Oman beach soccer. The team's journey began at the Arab Cup in Egypt in 2008, which marked our first official international participation. We finished fourth before going on to win the gold medal at the Asian Beach Games in Bali. In the 2023 edition of the Arab championship, Oman finished runners-up,” he said.
“The Arab championship is very important for us ahead of the AFC Beach Soccer Asian Cup Thailand 2026, especially as we will face two strong African teams, Morocco and Libya, as well as Lebanon. The Arab tournament will serve as an important preparatory event ahead of the Asian championship, which will be held in Phang Nga, Thailand, from November 18 to 28. We will retain the same squad that attended our most recent overseas training camp in Belarus for both the Arab and Asian championships,” he added.
“Oman will begin a domestic training camp in Muscat on Sunday, which will continue until November 1, to complete preparations for the Arab championship. Following the tournament, the team is scheduled to hold an overseas training camp in Thailand from November 13 to 17, ahead of the Asian campaign, which will also serve as a qualifying route to the Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup,” he said.
At the Asian championship, Oman will compete in Group C alongside two-time champions the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan.
In Group A, hosts Thailand will face three-time champions Japan, 2006 champions Bahrain and Iraq. Iran will seek to extend their record with a fifth title in Group B, where they will compete against Lebanon, Vietnam and Afghanistan.
The competition dates back to 2008, when Libya won the inaugural edition in Egypt, with the United Arab Emirates finishing runners-up. Saudi Arabia hosted the second edition in 2010 and claimed the title, while the UAE again finished second.
Egypt won the 2014 edition on home soil, with Lebanon finishing runners-up, before the Egyptians secured their second title in 2023 in Saudi Arabia. Oman reached the final that year, finishing runners-up after an impressive campaign.
BELARUS CAMP
Oman's beach soccer team recently completed an overseas training camp in Belarus, where they participated in the Friendship Cup and faced Belarus and Iran in two matches at the Peschanaya Dyuna Beach Sports Centre in Minsk.
Oman suffered an 8–5 defeat against Belarus, the world's fourth-ranked team, in their opening match. Abdullah al Souti scored twice, while Noah al Zadjali, Abdulrahman al Fazari and goalkeeper Younis al Owaisi scored one goal each.
In the second match, Oman suffered another defeat, losing 8–2 to Iran, the world's sixth-ranked side. Muslim al Oraimi and Fahad al Mishikhi scored for the national team.
Despite the results, coach Talib used the two matches to assess his players in different areas ahead of the upcoming Arab and Asian championships.
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