Oman U17s Fall to Jordan in WAFF Opener

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, September 29, 2026

Oman’s under-17 football team lost 3-1 to Jordan in their first match of the WAFF U17 Championship, despite an early goal from their captain Bashar al Shamsi. The defeat puts pressure on Oman to win against the United Arab Emirates in their final group game to keep their semifinal hopes alive.

Oman’s under-17 national football team opened their campaign at the 13th West Asian Football Federation (WAFF) U17 Championship with a 3-1 loss to hosts Jordan on Sunday evening at Aqaba Stadium. The match, part of Group B’s schedule, saw Oman take an early lead through their captain Bashar al Shamsi, who scored in the ninth minute. However, Jordan responded before halftime, with Faisal al Hourani equalizing in the 30th minute.

Jordan was subsequently reduced to 10 players in the 35th minute after Obada al Rayahneh received a second yellow card, forcing the hosts to play with a numerical disadvantage for the remainder of the match. Despite being a man down, Jordan regained the lead in the 72nd minute when al Hourani scored his second goal, followed by a late strike from Jameel al Issa in the 81st minute to secure the victory.

The result leaves Oman needing a positive outcome in their second and final group match against the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday. The game is scheduled for 6 p.m. Jordan time (7 p.m. Oman time) at the same venue. With just three teams in Group B, the UAE did not play in the opening round and will face Jordan in their final match on October 1.

The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semifinals, which raises the stakes for Oman’s upcoming encounter with the UAE as they seek to maintain their hopes of advancing in the tournament. Meanwhile, Group A’s opening fixtures saw Yemen defeating Palestine 2-0 and Lebanon recording a 4-0 win over Syria.

The WAFF U17 Championship, which runs through October 5 in Aqaba, serves as a critical preparatory platform for Oman’s young squad under head coach Ahmed bin Salim Bait Said. The competition provides important match experience ahead of their next regional challenge: the AFC U17 Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2027 Qualifiers. Oman is set to host Group G matches in Salalah from November 8 to 20, facing Kuwait, Bahrain, Lebanon, and Brunei Darussalam.

Tuesday’s game against the UAE represents an immediate opportunity for Oman to bounce back from their opening defeat and remain in contention for a semifinal berth.

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.