What a finish in Tashkent! Oman pulled off a stunning comeback on Tuesday, staying undefeated in the Central Asia Cup. They beat Kyrgyzstan 2-1 in a thrilling Group A match. It was a proper nail-biter, making everyone sit up and take notice of the team led by Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz.
This victory came just three days after Oman kicked off their tournament with a 1-1 draw against co-host Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan is already making history, having qualified for the 2026 World Cup. Oman found themselves down 1-0 after Tamirlan Kozubayev scored for Kyrgyzstan in the 24th minute. But this team has heart. Substitute Issam Al Sabhi became the hero, netting two goals in injury time, at 90+1 and 90+5 minutes, to secure the dramatic win.
In this Central Asia Cup group, the winner moves straight to the final. The second-place team gets to play for the bronze medal. Thanks to their dramatic victory, Oman sits at the top of the group. They share four points and an equal goal difference with Uzbekistan, who beat Turkmenistan 2-1. Oman will face Turkmenistan next on Friday, also in Tashkent.
Oman was invited to compete in this second edition of the Central Asia Cup. The tournament kicked off last Friday and wraps up next Monday. Eight countries are taking part, including Iran, who were the champions in 2023. Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are hosting the event together.
This tournament is more than just a friendly competition for Oman. They finished third two years ago, and now they are preparing for a much bigger challenge. Oman is gearing up for the fourth phase of Asian qualification for the 2026 World Cup. They will face tough opponents like Qatar and the United Arab Emirates in Group A. Those crucial matches are set for October 8 and 11 in Doha.
The path to the World Cup is clear but difficult for Asian teams. The winners of the two qualification groups will automatically secure their spots. The teams that finish second will then play two-leg matches in November. This will decide who represents Asia in the intercontinental playoff.
Carlos Queiroz is no stranger to the biggest stage in football. His impressive career includes coaching Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, among seven other national teams. Oman brought him in last July with one major goal: to lead them to their first-ever World Cup. Queiroz has already guided Portugal to the World Cup in 2010 and Iran in 2014, 2018, and 2022. He also helped South Africa qualify for the 2002 edition, though he wasn’t with them for the final tournament.
The former national team coach for Portugal, from 1991 to 1993 and again from 2008 to 2010, is chasing a unique record. He could become the first coach to qualify more than four teams for the World Cup finals. This would put him ahead of legends like England’s Walter Winterbottom and Uruguay’s Óscar Tabárez.
The 23rd edition of the World Cup will be a monumental event. It runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026. For the first time ever, 48 national teams will participate. The tournament will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, who are all automatically qualified as hosts.