Can Football Dreams Transform Gulf Geopolitics? Oman’s World Cup Quest Tests Regional Rivalries
As Oman pursues its first-ever World Cup qualification under Portuguese tactician Carlos Queiroz, the sultanate’s footballing ambitions collide with Qatar’s post-2022 regional dominance, revealing how sports increasingly shapes Middle Eastern soft power dynamics.
The Weight of History on Omani Shoulders
For Oman, a nation of 5.5 million that has never qualified for football’s premier tournament, the appointment of Carlos Queiroz represents more than tactical expertise—it’s a declaration of intent. The veteran Portuguese coach, who previously led Iran to consecutive World Cup appearances and managed Portugal’s golden generation, brings credibility that transcends the pitch. His presence signals Oman’s determination to join the Gulf’s footballing elite, a club that has long excluded the sultanate despite its strategic location and growing economic ambitions.
The timing of this push is particularly significant. Coming just two years after Qatar’s transformative hosting of the 2022 World Cup, Oman’s qualification bid reflects a broader pattern across the Gulf Cooperation Council nations: the instrumentalization of football as a vehicle for international recognition and domestic pride. Where once oil wealth alone dictated regional hierarchies, sporting success now offers an alternative pathway to global relevance.
Beyond the Beautiful Game: Soft Power Stakes
The match against Qatar carries symbolic weight that extends far beyond three points in a qualification table. Qatar’s successful World Cup hosting, despite years of criticism over labor rights and sportswashing allegations, demonstrated how football can reshape international perceptions. For Oman, traditionally the most diplomatically neutral Gulf state, sporting achievement could complement its longstanding role as a regional mediator with a new form of cultural influence.
This sporting rivalry also reflects deeper economic competition. As Gulf states diversify away from hydrocarbon dependence, investments in sports infrastructure, talent development, and high-profile coaching appointments like Queiroz’s serve multiple purposes. They attract tourism, create employment, and perhaps most importantly, provide young populations with new sources of national identity beyond traditional tribal and sectarian lines.
The Queiroz Factor: Experience Meets Expectation
Queiroz’s track record in Asian football—particularly his success in maximizing limited resources with Iran—makes him an ideal architect for Oman’s ambitions. His tactical pragmatism and experience navigating the unique pressures of Middle Eastern football politics could prove decisive. Yet his appointment also raises questions about the sustainability of relying on foreign expertise to achieve national sporting goals, a dependency that mirrors broader patterns in Gulf development strategies.
If Oman can overcome Qatar and continue their qualification journey, it would represent more than sporting achievement—it would challenge established hierarchies in a region where football increasingly serves as a barometer of national progress. But can a nation transform its international standing through ninety minutes of football, or does sustainable soft power require deeper structural changes that no Portuguese tactician, however skilled, can deliver?
