Oman national football team facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Oman

Nickname(s)	Al-Ahmar (The Reds) Samba Al-Khaleej (Gulf Samba)
Association	Oman Football Association (OFA)
Confederation	AFC (Asia)
Sub-confederation	WAFF (West Asia)
Head coach	Carlos Queiroz
Captain	Faiz Al-Rushaidi
Most caps	Ahmed Kano (183)
Top scorer	Hani Al-Dhabit (43)
Home stadium	Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex
FIFA code	OMA
First colours Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current	90 8 (7 February 2019)
Highest	50 (August – October 2004)
Lowest	129 (October 2016)
Elo ranking
Current	82 7 (3 March 2019)
Highest	49 (12 April 2005)
Lowest	174 (March 1984)
First international
Libya 14–1 Muscat and Oman (Cairo, Egypt; 2 September 1965)
Biggest win
Oman 14–0 Bhutan  (Muscat, Oman; 28 March 2017)
Biggest defeat
Libya 21–0 Muscat and Oman (Baghdad, Iraq, 6 April 1966)
Asian Cup
Appearances	6 (first in 2004)
Best result	Round of 16 (2019)
WAFF Championship
Appearances	5 (first in 2008)
Best result	Third place (2012)
Arabian Gulf Cup
Appearances	24 (first in 1974)
Best result	Champions (2009, 2017–18)

The Oman national football team (Arabic: منتخب عُمَّان لِكُرَّةُ الْقَدَم) plays for Oman in international football matches. This team is managed by the Oman Football Association. They are often called Al-Ahmar, which means "The Reds".

History of Oman Football

World Cup and Asian Cup Journeys

The Oman national football team has worked hard in big international competitions. They have not yet qualified for the FIFA World Cup. Their best result in the AFC Asian Cup was reaching the Round of 16 in 2019. The team has gotten much better over the years. Their games in different tournaments show they are becoming stronger in Asian football.

Gulf Cup Successes

In the mid-1990s, Oman started getting good results in Asia. A famous Omani player, Hani Al-Dhabit, was named the World Top Scorer in 2001. He scored 22 goals, which was the most by any player that year! He was the first Omani to win this award.

In the 2002 Arabian Gulf Cup in Saudi Arabia, Oman finished in 5th place. Captain Hani Al-Dhabit led the team to a 3–1 win against Kuwait, who had won the cup nine times before. Hani scored all three goals in that game! He also scored against Bahrain and Qatar. Hani was the top scorer of the tournament with 5 goals.

Oman reached the final of the 2004 Arabian Gulf Cup for the first time. They played against Qatar and lost in a penalty shootout. The game ended 1–1, but Qatar won 6–5 on penalties. Amad Al-Hosni was the top goalscorer in this tournament with 4 goals.

In the 2007 Arabian Gulf Cup in the United Arab Emirates, Oman reached the final again. They lost 1–0 to the UAE. However, they had not lost any other game in the tournament. Ali Al-Habsi, the goalkeeper, won the "Best Goalkeeper" award for the third time in a row! This was a record for the Gulf Cup.

After losing two finals, Oman finally won the 2009 Arabian Gulf Cup. They were the hosts that year. They beat Saudi Arabia in a penalty shootout after the game ended 0–0. Oman did not let in any goals during the whole tournament! Hassan Rabia was the top scorer with 4 goals, and Ali Al-Habsi won his fourth "Best Goalkeeper" award.

Oman won the 2017–18 Arabian Gulf Cup as well, showing their continued strength in the region.

Team Kits

Oman in a red kit playing against Thailand in a blue kit.

The Oman national football team has had different kit sponsors over the years. In 2006, they signed a deal with Gulf Air. Later, in 2012, the Oman Football Association (OFA) launched a new team kit designed by Taj Oman, an Omani company. Oman Air also became the official airline for the OFA.

In 2014, the OFA partnered with the Italian sports brand Kappa. Kappa now produces the team's kits, which also feature the Taj Oman brand. This deal helps provide sportswear for all Omani national football teams.

Period	Kit Manufacturer
1978–1996	Puma
1996–2005	Grand Sport
2005–2006	Umbro
2006–2008	Lotto
2008–2012	Adidas
2012–2014	Taj Oman
2014–2018	Kappa
2018–2023	Jako
2023–	Kappa

Recent Match Results

      Win       Draw       Loss       Fixture

Oman has played many matches recently. Here are some of their results from 2024 and 2025:

• On June 6, 2024, Oman won 3–0 against Chinese Taipei in a World Cup qualifier.
• On June 11, 2024, Oman drew 1–1 with Kyrgyzstan in a World Cup qualifier.
• On October 10, 2024, Oman won 4–0 against Kuwait in a World Cup qualifier.
• On December 24, 2024, Oman won 2–1 against Qatar in the Arabian Gulf Cup.
• On January 4, 2025, Oman lost 1–2 to Bahrain in the Arabian Gulf Cup final.
• On March 25, 2025, Oman won 1–0 against Kuwait in a World Cup qualifier.
• On May 28, 2025, Oman won 1–0 against Lebanon in a friendly match.
• On June 5, 2025, Oman lost 0–3 to Jordan in a World Cup qualifier.
• On June 10, 2025, Oman drew 1–1 with Palestine in a World Cup qualifier.

Team Staff

The Oman national football team has a full team of coaches and support staff. They help the players train, stay fit, and prepare for matches.

Position	Name
Technical director	Ahmed Al-Gharif
Head coach	Carlos Queiroz
Assistant coach	Roger De Sá Rashid Jaber
Goalkeeping coach	Sascha Marth
Fitness coach	Ricardo Silva
Match analyst	João Peixeiro
Team Manager	Maqbool Al-Balushi
Players Relations Manager	Ahmed Hadid Al-Mukhaini
Task Manager	Ahmed Al-Owaisi
Operations Manager	Kamil Al-Balushi
Photographer	Salem Al-Muqbali
Team Doctor	Dr. Mohammed Moulou
Physiotherapist	Said Al-Balushi
Physiotherapist	Yaqoob Al-Mahrouqi
Masseur	Farooq Al-Alawi
	Ali Al-Haddad

Coaching History

Many different coaches have led the Oman national football team over the years. They have come from various countries, including Brazil, Germany, France, and Oman itself. Each coach has helped shape the team's style and performance.

Key Players

The Oman national football team has many talented players. Here are some of the current squad members who play important roles.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Abdulmalik Al-Badri	(1998-08-24) 24 August 1998 (age 26)	2	0	Al-Shabab
18	1GK	Faiz Al-Rushaidi (captain)	(1988-07-19) 19 July 1988 (age 37)	79	0	Sohar
22	1GK	Ahmed Al-Rawahi	(1994-05-05) 5 May 1994 (age 31)	5	0	Al-Seeb
2	2DF	Ghanim Al-Habashi	(1998-08-04) 4 August 1998 (age 27)	5	0	Al-Nahda
3	2DF	Thani Al-Rushaidi	(1995-03-16) 16 March 1995 (age 30)	12	0	Al-Nahda
5	2DF	Musab Al-Shaqsy	(2000-07-01) 1 July 2000 (age 25)	2	0	Al-Rustaq
6	2DF	Ahmed Al-Khamisi	(1991-11-26) 26 November 1991 (age 33)	61	0	Al-Seeb
13	2DF	Mulham Al-Sinaidi	(2002-03-15) 15 March 2002 (age 23)	5	0	Al-Nasr
14	2DF	Ahmed Al-Kaabi	(1996-09-15) 15 September 1996 (age 28)	49	0	Al-Nahda
16	2DF	Khalid Al-Braiki	(1993-07-03) 3 July 1993 (age 32)	52	1	Al-Shabab
	2DF	Ali Al-Busaidi	(1991-03-21) 21 March 1991 (age 34)	102	4	Al-Seeb
	2DF	Majid Al-Saadi	(1996-05-09) 9 May 1996 (age 29)	1	0	Al-Shabab
4	3MF	Arshad Al-Alawi	(2000-04-12) 12 April 2000 (age 25)	60	8	Al-Seeb
8	3MF	Zahir Al-Aghbari	(1999-05-28) 28 May 1999 (age 26)	53	0	Al-Seeb
9	3MF	Sultan Al-Marzouq	(2004-10-23) 23 October 2004 (age 20)	1	0	Dhofar
10	3MF	Jameel Al-Yahmadi	(1996-07-27) 27 July 1996 (age 29)	86	4	Al-Seeb
12	3MF	Abdullah Fawaz	(1996-10-03) 3 October 1996 (age 28)	57	7	Al-Nahda
17	3MF	Hussein Al-Shahri	(2002-12-26) 26 December 2002 (age 22)	5	0	Al-Nahda
19	3MF	Hatem Al-Rushadi	(1996-02-15) 15 February 1996 (age 29)	9	0	Al-Shabab
20	3MF	Salaah Al-Yahyaei	(1998-08-17) 17 August 1998 (age 26)	67	9	Al-Khaldiya
23	3MF	Harib Al-Saadi	(1990-02-01) 1 February 1990 (age 35)	110	1	Al-Nahda
	3MF	Hamad Al-Habsi	(1994-05-14) 14 May 1994 (age 31)	1	0	Dhofar
7	4FW	Issam Al-Sabhi	(1997-05-01) 1 May 1997 (age 28)	60	16	Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya
11	4FW	Muhsen Al-Ghassani	(1997-03-27) 27 March 1997 (age 28)	68	16	Bangkok United
15	4FW	Rabia Al-Alawi	(1995-03-31) 31 March 1995 (age 30)	41	8	Al-Zawraa
21	4FW	Abdulrahman Al-Mushaifri	(1998-08-16) 16 August 1998 (age 26)	31	8	Al-Seeb
	4FW	Mohammed Al-Ghafri	(1997-05-17) 17 May 1997 (age 28)	24	4	Al-Shabab
	4FW	Tariq Al-Sadi	(2006-07-24) 24 July 2006 (age 19)	1	1	Sant Andreu

Team Records

These tables show the players who have played the most games and scored the most goals for Oman.

Most Games Played

Ahmed Mubarak has played the most games for Oman, with 183 appearances.

Top Goal Scorers

Hani Al-Dhabit is Oman's top scorer with 43 goals.

Tournament Performance

Oman has competed in many different football tournaments. Here's a look at how they have done in some of the biggest ones.

FIFA World Cup

Oman has not yet qualified for the FIFA World Cup. They have tried many times, and their qualification journey for the 2026 World Cup is still ongoing.

FIFA World Cup record											Qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Squad		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1930 to 1982	Not a FIFA member										Not a FIFA member
1986	Withdrew										Withdrew
1990	Did not qualify										6	0	2	4	2	11
1994											6	2	2	2	10	5
1998											6	4	1	1	14	2
2002											14	6	4	4	40	19
2006											6	3	1	2	14	3
2010											8	4	2	2	9	7
2014											16	6	5	5	15	16
2018											8	4	2	2	11	7
2022											18	10	2	6	27	16
2026	Qualification in progress										16	7	3	6	20	16
2030	To be determined										To be determined
2034
Total		0/10									104	46	24	34	162	102

AFC Asian Cup

Oman has played in the AFC Asian Cup several times. Their best performance was reaching the Round of 16 in 2019.

AFC Asian Cup record											Qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Squad		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1956 to 1980	Not an AFC member										Not an AFC member
1984	Did not qualify										4	1	1	2	9	15
1988	Withdrew										Withdrew
1992	Did not qualify										2	0	0	2	0	5
1996											6	4	0	2	23	5
2000											3	1	0	2	4	4
2004	Group stage	9th	3	1	1	1	4	3	Squad		6	5	0	1	24	2
2007		15th	3	0	2	1	1	3	Squad		6	4	0	2	14	6
2011	Did not qualify										6	2	2	2	4	4
2015	Group stage	12th	3	1	0	2	1	5	Squad		6	4	2	0	7	1
2019	Round of 16	16th	4	1	0	3	4	6	Squad		14	9	2	3	39	12
2023	Group stage	17th	3	0	2	1	2	3	Squad		8	6	0	2	16	6
2027	Qualified										6	4	1	1	11	2
Total	Round of 16	6/12	16	3	5	8	12	20			67	40	8	19	151	62

Arab Cup

Oman has played in the Arab Cup a few times. Their best result was reaching the Quarter-finals in 2021.

FIFA Arab Cup record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1963–1964	Did not enter
1966	Group stage	10th	1	0	0	1	1	21
1985–1992	Did not enter
1998	Withdrew
2002–2012	Did not enter
2021	Quarter-finals	8th	4	1	1	2	6	5
2025	To be determined
Total			5	1	1	3	7	26

Arabian Gulf Cup

The Arabian Gulf Cup is a very important tournament for Oman. They have won it twice!

Gulf Cup record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Squad
1970	Did not enter
1972
1974	Round 1	6th	2	0	0	2	0	9
1976	Seventh place	7th	6	0	1	5	3	21
1979	Seventh place	7th	6	0	0	6	1	21
1982	Sixth place	6th	5	0	0	5	2	15
1984	Seventh place	7th	6	0	2	4	3	9
1986	Seventh place	7th	6	0	1	5	4	11
1988	Seventh place	7th	6	1	1	4	3	9
1990	Fourth place	4th	4	0	3	1	4	6
1992	Sixth place	6th	5	0	0	5	1	10
1994	Sixth place	6th	5	0	2	3	4	9
1996	Sixth place	6th	5	0	2	3	2	7
1998	Fourth place	4th	5	1	1	3	6	12
2002	Fifth place	5th	5	1	1	3	5	7
2003–04	Fourth place	4th	6	2	2	2	6	4
2004	Runners-up	2nd	5	3	1	1	10	7
2007	Runners-up	2nd	5	4	0	1	7	4
2009	Champions	1st	5	3	2	0	7	0	Squad
2010	Group stage	6th	3	0	3	0	1	1
2013	Group stage	7th	3	0	1	2	1	4	Squad
2014	Fourth place	4th	5	1	2	2	7	5	Squad
2017–18	Champions	1st	5	3	1	1	4	1	Squad
2019	Group stage	5th	3	1	1	1	3	4	Squad
2023	Runners-up	2nd	5	3	1	1	8	6	Squad
2024–25	Runners-up	2nd	3	1	2	1	4	3
2026	TBD
Total	Champions	1st	111	23	29	59	91	180

WAFF Championship

Oman has also competed in the WAFF Championship. They achieved third place in 2012.

WAFF Championship record
Year	Round	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
2000	Not a WAFF Member
2002
2004
2007
2008	Group stage	2	0	0	2	2	5	−3
2010	Group stage	2	0	1	1	2	4	−2
2012	Third place	5	3	0	2	5	4	+1
2014	Group stage	2	0	2	0	0	0	0
2019	Did not enter
2026	Qualified
Total	Third place	11	3	3	5	9	13	−4

CAFA Nations Cup

Oman finished third in the CAFA Nations Cup in 2023.

CAFA Nations Cup record
Year	Round	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
2023	Third place	4	2	1	1	4	4	0
Total		4	2	1	1	4	4	0

Asian Games

Oman has participated in the football tournament at the Asian Games.

Asian Games record
Year	Round	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1951–1978	Did not participate
1982	Withdrew
1986-1990	Did not participate
1994	11th	3	1	1	1	4	4
1998	11th	5	2	1	2	14	13
Total		8	3	2	3	18	17

Arab Games

Oman has also played in the football tournament at the Arab Games.

Arab Games record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1953–1961	Did not enter
1965	Group stage	10th	4	0	0	4	2	45
1976–1985	Did not enter
1997	Group stage	7th	3	0	2	1	4	6
1999	Group stage	8th	4	0	2	2	2	7
2007	Did not enter
2011	Group stage	9th	2	0	1	1	0	2
Total			13	0	5	8	8	60

Team Honours

Oman has won some important awards and championships.

Regional Titles

• Arabian Gulf Cup
  • Champions (2): 2009, 2017–18
  • Runners-up (4): 2004, 2007, 2023, 2024–25
• WAFF Championship
  • Third Place (1): 2012

Special Awards

• Arabian Gulf Cup Fair Play Award (1): 2014 (This award is given to the team that plays fairly and respectfully.)

See also

In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Omán para niños