Oman Coach Questions AFC’s Home Advantage Decision in World Cup Qualifiers

Muscat, Oman – Oman coach Carlos Queiroz has expressed frustration over the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) recent decision to give home advantage to Saudi Arabia and Qatar in the upcoming World Cup qualifying matches. The decision, announced in June, has left other competing nations, including Indonesia, Iraq, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates, feeling sidelined.

Over the next eight days, six Asian teams will vie for two World Cup spots, with Saudi Arabia and Qatar already benefiting from hosting matches within their home grounds. This arrangement has raised questions, as the AFC did not disclose the selection criteria used for the decision.

“It would be a miracle in this complicated situation,” Queiroz, who was appointed coach in July, told the Guardian. The veteran coach has helped teams like South Africa, Portugal, and Iran qualify for the World Cup. Yet he acknowledges that leading Oman to a World Cup would be his greatest achievement. Queiroz criticized the decision to provide home advantage to Saudi Arabia and Qatar, stating, “Are there no stadiums in Japan or Kuwait where we could play?”

The logistical challenges added to the frustration. Queiroz pointed out that both home teams enjoy six days of rest between their games, while Oman must play against Qatar on Wednesday and then against the UAE just three days later. “We play Qatar and we play again three days later; they play six days after, and they already know the result and what they need to do,” he said.

Queiroz noted that this kind of scheduling has never been seen before in World Cup qualifiers. “The people that made the regulations didn’t think about this and did not pay attention,” he added. Furthermore, five of Oman’s players are based overseas, complicating travel for the imminent games.

Geopolitical tensions are also at play, as Indonesian officials expressed concern regarding referee neutrality after learning a Kuwaiti referee will officiate their game against Saudi Arabia. “We want a referee who is truly neutral, possibly from Europe or elsewhere,” said Kombes Sumardji, an Indonesian team official.

Aside from Queiroz, the upcoming matches feature a diverse coaching lineup, including former Real Madrid manager Julen Lopetegui, now leading Qatar, and Hervé Renard managing Saudi Arabia. As it stands, six teams have already qualified from Asia for the World Cup: Japan, Iran, South Korea, Australia, Uzbekistan, and Jordan. The stakes are high, with many believing Saudi Arabia and Qatar are on the verge of joining them.