Oman team gears up for clash against Iraq

Basra: The Oman national football team started intensive training at the Jaza’a Al Nakhla Stadium in Basra on Wednesday for their first match against the Iraqi football team on Thursday at 8pm Oman time at the same venue.

The match comes within the competitions of the first round of the second group in the third leg qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The first round of the second group also accommodates the national teams of Kuwait, South Korea, Palestine and Jordan.
Oman’s Czech coach Jaroslav Silhavy led a closed training session and allocated the first 15 minutes for the media.

In the press conference, on Wednesday at Manawi Basha Hall in Basra, Jaroslav Silhavy reaffirmed that the first match for the team would be tough one as it would be against the Iraqi team and the first match is vital for both the teams.

He said: “Our national team in the match vs the Iraqi team in the GCC Cup had performed well and we have confidence of achieving positive results in the match for the World Cup 2026 qualifiers.The technical body has analysed the matches of the Iraqis and diagnosed their weaknesses and strengths.”

He also pointed out that Iraq has young players who have the experience. He said that reaching the World Cup is the dream and goal of our team, however, we have to understand that it is not easy and that we have to do what it takes to achieve this dream and goal.

During the press conference, player Mohammed Al Masalami of the national team, expressed his thanks to the Iraqi people for their hospitality and stated that the match would be tough and our goal is to win.

The match’s main referee would be Saudi Khalid Al Tarees with assistant referees Mohammed Al Abkari and Abulrahim Al Shamri.

The VAR technique would be under Abdullah Al Shahri.

It is worth mentioning that Oman national football team has qualified for the third round of the World Cup qualifiers after it led the third group in the second round of the qualifiers of the Asian Cup 2027 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The finals of the World Cup 2026 will be held in the USA , Canada and Mexico.