Muscat – Oman’s early exit from the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers and the ongoing FIFA Arab Cup in Qatar has prompted renewed calls from coaches and analysts for a thorough review of the country’s football system, amid concerns that structural shortcomings are holding the national team back.
Speaking after the team’s final match in Doha against Comoros on December 8, which Oman won 2-1, head coach Carlos Queiroz said the sultanate needed “more than passion”, stressing the importance of systems, structures and sustained investment. His remarks have revived long-standing debate over the preparation of the national team and the gap separating Oman from other Gulf nations that have accelerated the professionalisation of their football programmes.
Observers say the Arab Cup campaign highlighted recurring problems, including missed scoring opportunities, lapses in concentration late in matches and def-ensive errors. According to analysts, these issues reflect deeper weaknesses linked to infrastructure, sports science support and the absence of specialised technical staff now considered standard at the regional level.
Ismail al Ajmi, a sports analyst and former Oman international, told Muscat Daily that both national teams and clubs have fallen short of expectations, describing recent results as deeply disappointing. He attributed the decline to a weak domestic league, limited infrastructure and the lack of structured programmes for coach education and development. He added that the local game also suffers from a shortage of professional players capable of competing consistently at regional and continental tournaments.
Ali Hamad al Sheyadi, former goalkeeper of Suwaiq Club, said the recent early exits should prompt a serious reassessment by Oman Football Association and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs. He recalled a period when Oman was regarded as a strong regional force, once known as the ‘Samba of the Gulf’. The contrast with current performances, he said, demands an honest evaluation and decisive action.
Sheyadi said the coach’s comments offered a roadmap for recovery, beginning with stronger investment in grassroots football at junior and youth levels. He also called for increased financial support for clubs, construction of modern stadiums and sustained development of the domestic league to better prepare players for international competition. He added that introducing younger players into the national team would help build experience and maturity over the long term.
The Arab Cup exit should be treated as a turning point rather than a failure, he argued, for establishment of a national high-performance centre operating year-round, bringing together fitness testing, data analysis, rehabilitation and youth development. He noted that the pathway from academies to the national team remains inconsistent and requires professionalisation.
Experts have also stressed the importance of continuity, warning that frequent changes in technical leadership have prevented long-term planning. They argue that meaningful progress will depend on giving the current coach sufficient time and support to build a system, rather than focusing solely on short-term results.
