Oman appoints Carlos Queiroz as new national team coach ahead of 2026 World Cup.

Oman has appointed former Real Madrid and Portugal manager Carlos Queiroz as their new head coach. Queiroz has extensive coaching experience, having led several national teams and served as an assistant coach at Manchester United. Oman reached the fourth round of Asia's World Cup qualifiers and will be joined by Iraq, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and the United Arab Emirates in the next phase.

Oman has appointed former Real Madrid and Portugal manager Carlos Queiroz as their new head coach, with the strategic move coming ahead of the AFC fourth and final round of qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup [1]. The appointment was announced on July 15, with Queiroz taking over from national coach Rashid Jaber [2].

Queiroz brings extensive coaching experience to the role, having led national teams including Portugal, Iran, Colombia, Egypt, and Qatar. He also served as an assistant coach at Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson [1]. The appointment reflects Oman's ambition to reach the World Cup finals, with the draw for the fourth round set to take place on July 17 in Kuala Lumpur [2].

Oman has already secured a spot in the fourth round by finishing fourth in Group B of the previous round, ending with a 1-1 draw with Palestine [1]. They will compete against Iraq, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and the United Arab Emirates in the next phase [2].

The AFC has confirmed that Saudi Arabia and Qatar will jointly host the fourth round qualifiers in October 2025, with matches played over three matchdays from October 8 to 14 in a centralized format [2]. The winners of each group will earn direct qualification to the 48-team World Cup finals, while runners-up will face off in a playoff to determine the final intercontinental spot.

The appointment of Queiroz follows a period of transition and development under the leadership of Rashid Jaber, whose tenure was instrumental in guiding Oman to this crucial qualification phase [2]. Hamad Al Azzani has been named technical director for Oman's youth national teams and will temporarily serve as assistant coach for the senior team during the qualifiers, ensuring a seamless transition and focus on long-term development [2].

The OFA's board, chaired by Sayyid Sulaiman Al Busaidi, endorsed the decision to appoint Queiroz, reflecting a commitment to achieving top-level results [2].

References:
[1] https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/oman-appoint-queiroz-new-coach-2025-07-15/
[2] https://timesofoman.com/article/160485-oman-appoints-portuguese-queiroz-as-new-head-coach-ahead-of-fourth-round-world-cup-qualifiers