Monday 24 / March / 2025
MUSCAT: Oman head coach Rasheed Jaber expressed his immense pride in his players after they secured a stunning 1-1 draw against powerhouse South Korea in their AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to 26 Group B clash at Goyang Stadium on Thursday.
Ali Al Busaidi’s late equaliser ensured Oman left Korea with a valuable point, keeping their hopes of qualification alive in a challenging group.
While the result was a setback for the hosts, for Oman, it was a moment of triumph and a testament to their growing strength under Jaber’s leadership.
“It was a very tough match. We knew we were up against one of the strongest teams in Asia, a team with players who can change the game at any moment,” Jaber said after the match.
“But we stayed focused, disciplined, and never gave up. That is the character of this team.”
South Korea, led by captain Son Heung-min, took the lead in the 41st minute through Hwang Hee Chan, and for much of the match, it seemed like they would walk away with all three points.
However, Oman remained resilient, striking back in the 80th minute through Al Busaidi, who fired home a powerful shot after a well-worked move.
Jaber praised his players for their determination, noting that such performances reflect the hard work put in during training.
“We knew what to expect. South Korea are an exceptional team, and taking a point here is never easy. But we believed in ourselves. Even after conceding, we remained confident, and that belief paid off,” he said.
On the tactical approach, Jaber highlighted Oman’s disciplined defensive setup. “We had a plan to stay compact, frustrate their attack, and then find our chances. In the first half, they capitalised on a mistake, but in the second half, we played with more confidence and took our opportunity when it came.”
For Oman, the result signals a hope. Jaber, who has been instrumental in shaping the team’s identity, sees this as another step in the right direction. “A point against a team like South Korea, in their home stadium, speaks volumes about our progress. We still have a long way to go, but this shows that Oman is ready to compete at the highest level.”
With the draw, South Korea remain top of Group B with 14 points, while Oman stay in contention with a crucial match against Kuwait coming up on Tuesday in Kuwait.
Jaber believes that the team must build on this result. “This is just the beginning. We have to take this energy into our next matches. The road to qualification is not easy, but we have shown that we belong here.”
As Oman prepare to face hosts Kuwait, Jaber remains optimistic of securing a spot in the fourth round. “Every game is a new challenge. But if we play with this same spirit and determination, I believe we can continue to achieve great things.”
The top two teams in the group at this stage, South Korea (14 points) and Jordan (12 points), are set to secure direct qualification for the 2026 World Cup, while the next two at this stage, Iraq (12 points) and Oman (7 points), will progress to the fourth round.
Kuwait currently sit in fifth place with five points, while Palestine occupy the bottom spot with three points.
The teams finishing third in each of the three groups in the third round will advance to the fourth round, where they will be divided into two groups.
The winners of these groups will also secure a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while the second-placed teams from each group will face off in a two-legged play-off in November 2025 to determine which team will move on to the inter-confederation play-offs.
Japan became the first team from Asia to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Thursday from Group C with 19 points.
Following Tuesday’s match, Oman will host Jordan on June 5 before concluding their campaign with an away fixture against Palestine.
