Iraq to face Oman in World Cup qualifier with both teams eyeing crucial points

BAGHDAD — The Iraqi national team will wear an all-white kit in their match against Oman, who will don red, in the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scheduled for Tuesday. The match will be played at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Muscat, Oman.

“The technical meeting for the match between our national team and Oman, part of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, was held on Monday morning… Discussions addressed administrative, logistical, medical, and media matters,” the Iraqi Football Association said in a statement.

In the current standings of Group B, South Korea leads with 13 points from five matches. Both Iraq and Jordan have eight points, with Jordan holding an advantage in goal difference, placing Iraq in third position. Oman is in fourth place with six points.

Iraqi national team coach Jesús Casas said on Monday that the upcoming match against Oman will be challenging, as both teams are familiar with each other. He expressed his desire to win but acknowledged there are no guarantees.

“The two teams know each other very well, having faced each other three times in the past two years. We always aimed for victory in those games,” Casas said during a press conference.

“I want to win tomorrow, although there are no guarantees of success. I don’t expect surprises in the match, but I am confident in the hard work the team has put into preparing for it,” he said.

Casas added that the match will be tough, with the final result depending on several factors. “Everyone in the team is working tirelessly to achieve the dream of qualification. It’s natural for any team playing at home with its fans to be strong and aim for victory. However, from my perspective, tomorrow’s match will be more challenging for the Omani team.”

The Iraqi national football team faced criticism following a 0-0 draw against Jordan on Nov. 14 at the Basra International Stadium. The match saw both teams sharing points, leaving Iraq in third place in Group B.

Fans and analysts expressed disappointment over Iraq’s performance, citing missed opportunities and a lack of offensive creativity. The team’s inability to secure a win at home has raised concerns about their prospects in the remaining qualifiers.