Oman’s Under-15 national football team concluded the qualification stage of the inaugural FIFA U15 World Cup and Festival 2026 with promising results in Baku, Azerbaijan. On Monday, the team secured a 4-2 victory over Chinese Taipei before holding group leaders Algeria to a 3-3 draw in a closely contested match.
The draw against Algeria marked a significant achievement for Oman, as they became the first team to score against the North African side in the competition. Algeria had entered the match unbeaten, having won four consecutive games without conceding a goal, including victories over Argentina, Suriname, Chinese Taipei, and Malawi. Despite Oman taking a 3-2 lead late in the game, Algeria managed to level the score to maintain their unbeaten run and clinch the top position in Group B.
Under the guidance of coach Nasser al Mayahi, Oman demonstrated resilience throughout the qualification phase, finishing fourth in their group with seven points from five matches. Their campaign included two wins, one draw, and two losses, with 13 goals scored and an equal number conceded. The team’s other group results saw heavy defeats against Malawi (3-1) and Argentina (5-1) but a strong start with a 4-0 win against Suriname. In that opening match, Al Yazan bin Talal al Rashdi netted twice, supported by goals from Muadh bin Moosa al Muharrami and Ali bin Qasim al Habsi.
Facing two critical matches on the final day of qualifications, Oman responded with an early surge against Chinese Taipei, scoring three goals within the first seven minutes and adding a fourth in the second half. Later that day, they challenged Algeria with determination, ultimately earning a valuable point.
Group B standings concluded with Algeria first on 13 points, followed by Argentina (12), Malawi (9), Oman (7), Chinese Taipei, and Suriname. Oman’s fourth-place finish advanced them into Tier D for the tournament stage, where they will compete against other fourth-placed teams in a cross-elimination format. Matches at this stage are scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday following a rest day on Tuesday, ahead of the tournament’s conclusion on Friday.
The FIFA U15 World Cup and Festival features an eight-a-side format, with matches consisting of two 20-minute halves played on smaller pitches. All teams progress into the second stage, ensuring continued international competition and development opportunities for the young athletes.