Oman appointed Carlos Queiroz as its national team coach on Tuesday in preparation for autumn matches that will decide if the nation qualifies for the World Cup for the first time.
The experienced Portuguese coach previously took Iran to the 2014 and 2018 World Cups and will start immediately.
Oman, along with five other countries—Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar—has reached the fourth round of qualifying. From groups of three, the top two teams will advance to the 2026 World Cup next summer in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
The draw for the fourth round will take place on Thursday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with matches scheduled for October. After these, there will be one more round, where second-place teams will compete in November for a spot in a playoff tournament.
“This is part of efforts to enhance the team’s performances for upcoming matches,” stated the Oman Football Association.
Queiroz takes over from Rashid Jaber, who led Oman to a fourth-place finish in the third round, keeping qualification hopes alive.
The 72-year-old Queiroz has also managed Real Madrid, Portugal, Egypt, Colombia, and Qatar.
He was dismissed as Qatar's coach in December 2023 after 11 matches.
