Oman today_ The new stage of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in Asia is about to begin, and in one of the groups, the national teams of Oman, the UAE, and Qatar will compete for a spot in the next round. The group’s opening match will see Oman facing the UAE — a game already carrying extra weight, as it will be officiated by Alireza Faghani, the renowned international referee from Iran. Faghani recently drew praise for his strong performance in the Saudi Pro League, where he managed the thrilling clash between Al Hilal and Al Ahli that ended in a 3–3 draw.
The significance of his appointment goes beyond his global reputation. On Oman’s bench sits Carlos Queiroz, a coach who has previously had direct tensions with Faghani. Their conflict dates back to the 2021 Arab Cup semifinal between Egypt and Tunisia, where a penalty decision initially awarded to Tunisia and later overturned through VAR sparked Queiroz’s fierce protests. The Portuguese manager received a yellow card during the match and, afterward, claimed that Faghani’s officiating had played a decisive role in Egypt’s defeat.
Now, on the eve of this crucial qualifying stage, all eyes are on the showdown between Oman and the UAE. The renewed face-off between Queiroz and Faghani adds another layer of intrigue, with the Iranian referee’s decisions likely to play a key role in shaping the path of both teams toward the World Cup.
Queiroz’s road to the World Cup tied to Iran
