Iraq vs. Oman - prediction, team news, lineups

By Matt Law | 21 Sep 2026 09:14, Last updated: 21 Sep 2026 09:18

Iraq and Oman volition fastener horns successful their Arabian Gulf Cup opener connected Wednesday.

The duo are competing successful Group A alongside Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, and the apical 2 successful the conception volition beforehand to the semi-finals of the tourney which is being held successful Saudi Arabia.

Match preview

Iraq are competing successful the Arabian Gulf Cup for the 18th clip successful their history, and the nationalist broadside person won the contention connected 4 occasions, with their past occurrence coming successful 2023.

Graham Arnold's broadside are competing successful Group A alongside Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, and they volition beryllium aiming to unafraid a top-two spot successful the conception successful bid to marque the semi-finals.

Iraq person not been successful enactment since competing astatine the 2026 World Cup, erstwhile they mislaid each 3 of their matches against Norway, France and Senegal to exit successful the radical stage.

The nationalist broadside are connected a four-game losing run, with their past occurrence proving to beryllium a 1-0 triumph implicit Andorra successful a affable astatine the extremity of May.

The latest instalment of the Arabian Gulf Cup volition reason connected October 6, with 8 teams competing for glory, including United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Yemen successful Group B.

Oman are really much experienced than Iraq erstwhile it comes to this competition, arsenic they hole to play successful the Arabian Gulf Cup for the 25th time.

The Reds are two-time winners, past triumphing successful 2017-18, and they volition participate this lucifer successful decent form, having won 2 of their past 3 games successful each competitions.

Oman recorded a 4-1 triumph implicit Mozambique successful their past clash astatine the commencement of June, portion their past competitory lucifer ended successful a 2-1 triumph against Comoros past December.

Tarik Sektioui's broadside volition look Iraq connected Wednesday earlier tackling Saudi Arabia connected September 26 and Kuwait connected September 29, with a top-two spot needed to beforehand to the semi-finals.

Iraq signifier (all competitions):

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Oman signifier (all competitions):

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Team News

Iraq are expected to person Aymen Hussein astatine the extremity of their onslaught connected Wednesday, with the 30-year-old bidding to adhd to the 34 goals that helium has scored for the nationalist side.

Zidane Iqbal is acceptable to beryllium a notable starter, with the erstwhile Manchester United attacker successful enactment to triumph his 29th headdress for Iraq.

Sheffield Wednesday's Ali Al-Hamadi is besides expected to diagnostic from the archetypal whistle.

As for Oman, nary wounded problems person been reported up of this match, truthful the Reds are expected to beryllium successful beardown signifier successful presumption of their squad.

Harib Al-Saadi remains an important fig for the nationalist side, and the 36-year-old is successful enactment to run successful cardinal midfield for Oman successful this contest.

Iraq imaginable starting lineup:

Basil; Tahseen, Hashim, Doski, Saadoon; Iqbal, Bayesh, Qasem, Jasim; Al-Hamadi, Hussein

Oman imaginable starting lineup:

Al-Mukhaini; Al-Braiki, Al-Habashi, Al-Harthi, Al-Mamari; Al-Ghafri, Al-Kaabi, Al-Saadi, Al-Shahri; Al-Alawi, Al-Rushadi

We say: Iraq 2-1 Oman

Iraq person won the past 3 matches betwixt the 2 sides, including a 1-0 occurrence successful their past clash successful November 2024, and we are backing Arnold's squad to unafraid the triumph here.