Al-Ghassani Backs Queiroz in Oman’s Quest for World Cup Spot

Oman striker Muhsen Al-Ghassani expressed confidence in head coach Carlos Queiroz leading the national team to their first-ever World Cup. As Oman prepares for the next round of Asia’s qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, they face Qatar in Group A on Wednesday in Doha, followed by a match against the United Arab Emirates three days later.

The Oman team aims to secure one of the two remaining World Cup slots available to Asian teams. Group winners will join established football nations such as Japan, South Korea, Australia, Iran, Uzbekistan, and Jordan in the finals. Al-Ghassani believes Queiroz, with his wealth of experience, can make a significant impact.

“He’s a big coach, he has experience,” Al-Ghassani noted about Queiroz, who is targeting his fifth World Cup appearance after coaching Iran three times and Portugal once. “He’s worked with us for about three months and he’s helping us to go to the World Cup hopefully. It’s a good chance for us, for my country to make history. We’re prepared for these games and we can do it.”

Oman currently ranks 78th in the world and has never qualified for the World Cup. In contrast, Qatar is attempting to progress through the preliminaries for the first time after hosting the tournament in 2022. The United Arab Emirates aims to return to the finals after a 36-year absence, having last qualified in 1990 in Italy.

Al-Ghassani emphasized the need for focus and teamwork, stating, “We have to focus and we have to be patient. We have to fight together, and I tell you, we can do it. All my teammates have confidence, and they have worked well to take this chance.”

In another part of the qualifiers, Saudi Arabia, a six-time World Cup participant, will begin the fourth round against Indonesia, coached by Patrick Kluivert. The team is looking to secure their spot in the global tournament, while Iraq, managed by former Australia coach Graham Arnold, rounds out Group B.

The winners of each group will advance directly to the World Cup, while the runners-up will compete in November over two legs. This will determine which nation will take part in an intercontinental playoff in March for the last remaining berth in the tournament.

As Oman gears up for their crucial matches, the players and coaching staff are hopeful that they can turn their ambitions into reality and make history by qualifying for the World Cup for the first time.