China defeat Oman in U17 Gulf Cup opener

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, October 21, 2026

Oman’s under-17 team lost 2-1 to China in their Gulf Cup U17 Qatar 2026 opener despite a late goal, with China taking an early two-goal lead and holding on after a red card reduced their side to 10 men. The defeat leaves Oman without points in Group A, making their upcoming match against the UAE critical for advancing to the tournament's knockout stage.

Oman’s under-17 national football team began their Gulf Cup U17 Qatar 2026 campaign with a 2-1 loss to China on Monday evening at Hamad bin Khalifa Stadium. Despite a strong second-half effort and a late goal from Abdulrahman al Hashmi, Oman was unable to recover from a two-goal deficit sustained before halftime.

China opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 41st minute, with Liu Kai converting the spot-kick. The visitors extended their lead in stoppage time of the first half when Peng Xianchen headed home, putting Oman into the break trailing 2-0.

Oman showed increased attacking intent after the interval and benefited from a turning point in the 63rd minute when China’s Liu Kaiwan received a straight red card, reducing China to 10 men. With the numerical advantage, Oman intensified their pressure. The team was rewarded in the 90th minute when a free-kick from Saif al Jabri deflected off the defensive wall, falling to Al Hashmi, who scored to narrow the margin.

Despite ongoing pressure during stoppage time, Oman was unable to find an equaliser, allowing China to secure all three points and move to the top of Group A with six points. Meanwhile, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates stand on three points each, while Oman and hosts Qatar remain without any points following Bahrain’s 1-0 victory over Qatar earlier in the group stage.

Oman is scheduled to face the UAE on Thursday at Grand Hamad Stadium. This match is crucial for Oman’s prospects of advancing from Group A. China will play Bahrain later the same day at Saoud bin Abdulrahman Stadium.

The tournament consists of 10 teams divided into two groups. Group A features Oman, Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, and China. Group B includes Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Yemen, and Egypt. The competition continues as the teams vie for group stage success and progression to the knockout rounds.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.