Monday 06 / July / 2026
MUSCAT: The FIFA World Cup has been an emotional roller-coaster for football fans in Oman. With eight teams from the Arab world competing in the expanded 48-team tournament, there were high hopes that at least four would progress to the knockout stage.
Those expectations were only partly realised as Morocco, Egypt and Algeria advanced, while Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq, Jordan and Tunisia bowed out in the group phase.
Following the Round of 32, only Morocco and Egypt remain in contention, with the Atlas Lions booking their place in the quarter-finals with an emphatic 3-0 victory over co-hosts Canada.
Egypt face defending champions Argentina in Atlanta on Tuesday (8pm Oman time), while Morocco meet France in Friday’s quarter-final (midnight Oman time), with supporters across the region daring to believe another upset could be on the cards.
From Muscat and Sohar to Sur and Salalah, fans are eagerly awaiting Tuesday’s blockbuster between Lionel Messi’s Argentina and Mohamed Salah’s Egypt.
The early evening kickoff is a welcome change for supporters who have endured several late-night matches during the tournament, with fans in the Sultanate firmly throwing their weight behind the last two Arab nations standing.
While Salah and Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi remain the biggest crowd-pullers, the dynamic trio of Azzedine Ounahi, Brahim Díaz and Ismael Saibari has also captured the imagination of fans across Oman as the Arab dream gathers momentum.
Belief has only grown after unfancied Cape Verde pushed Argentina all the way before the South Americans escaped with a dramatic 3-2 extra-time victory, proving even the world champions can be rattled.
“After watching Cape Verde trouble Argentina for 120 minutes, why can’t Egypt do the same?” said Ahmed Hassan, an Egyptian professional based in Muscat.
“Salah, Omar Marmoush and the rest of the team have already made history by reaching the knockout stage for the first time. Now they have nothing to lose and everything to gain.”
For Moroccan expatriate Youssef El Idrissi, his team’s campaign has become a source of pride for the entire Arab world.
“Hakimi leads from the front, but this team is much more than one superstar,” he said.
“Ounahi’s goals, Brahim Díaz’s creativity and Saibari’s energy have shown the depth of our squad. France will be a huge challenge, but this Morocco side fears nobody.”
Many Omanis have also embraced the Arab cause.
“We’ll be cheering for both Egypt and Morocco,” said Mohammed Al Amri, a football enthusiast from Muscat. “When an Arab team succeeds on the world stage, the whole region celebrates. Cape Verde showed Argentina are far from invincible, and if Egypt defend well and Salah gets his chance, anything is possible. Morocco have already shown they belong among the world’s best.”
Whether it is Salah chasing another iconic World Cup moment or Hakimi leading Morocco’s fearless challenge, fans across Oman will be united in hope that the Arab adventure still has a few memorable chapters left.
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