What: 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier
When: November 14, 2026
Where: Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, Muscat, Oman
Kickoff: 6 PM Jerusalem Time
Streams/TV: Subscribe to Football Palestine on Substack to receive a streaming link to your inbox one hour before kickoff.
Previous Encounters:
06.09.2023: Oman 2:1 Palestine (Friendly)
27.03.2018: Oman 1:0 Palestine (2019 Asian Cup Qualifier)
13.06.2017: Palestine 2:1 Oman (2019 Asian Cup Qualifier)
14.12.2012: Oman 2:1 Palestine (2012 WAFF Championship)
Daboub Doubles Down
One of the biggest talking points headed into the fifth and sixth match days of Round Three was the lack of changes in the squad compared to the one called up in October. Unlike the limited player pools of other Group B teams Palestine has plenty of talent to call upon should it want to change things up.
Those alternatives exist mainly in attacking positions- a tonic for teams struggling to convert chances into goals. Instead, Mahmoud Eid remains in Bangkok and a triumvirate of Egyptian Premier League starters: Hamed Hamdan, Badr Moussa (both Petrojet), and Khaled Al-Nabris (Ismaily) are sitting by the Nile.
The only change in the side is an enforced one. Samer Jondi tore his ACL, Camilo Saldaña is suspended and Mohammed Khalil has yet to start a match in Round Three so in comes former Olympic Team Captain Wajdi Nabhan who could even force his way into the starting eleven against Oman.
Choosing stability makes sense at this stage. The time for tinkering was the calendar year of 2022. Palestine played a grand total of zero friendlies that year (Jordan played seven) losing the opportunity to test players.
It should be noted that Daboub is already trying to incorporate several players that came into the side in 2023 and 2024. Ataa Jaber, Zaid Qunbar, Camilo Saldaña, and Amid Mahajna were first capped last year and Michel Termanini returned after a five year absence. The additions of Wessam Abou Ali, Moustafa Zeidan, and Omar Faraj in 2024 have further changed the dynamic of the team.
While Palestine is still searching for its first win in Round Three they have exhibited a certain X-factor in their first four games. That has allowed them to earn a point against Korea Republic and escape with a draw against Kuwait in spite of playing a man down for over 40 minutes.
If things start to click Daboub’s faith in his charges will be justified. If things continue to sputter there could be changes and Daboub might be amongst them.
Injuries leave Oman reeling
Much like Jordan- Oman’s strength is their weakness. The team’s starting lineup is experienced and has been playing with one another since they were teenagers. Omani footballers rarely play abroad, further strengthening the bond and understanding amongst the players.
In last month’s qualifiers the back line of Ali Al-Busaidi, Ahmed Al-Khamisi, Muhammed Al-Musalami, and Amjad Al-Harthi were the same four defenders that backstopped Al-Seeb to the 2023/24 league title.
Al-Seeb’s title winning squad also included forward Yahya Al-Ghassani (now with Bangkok United), Arshad Alawi, Abdul Rahman Al-Mushaifari and Jameel Al-Yahmadi.
All eight players were starters in both qualifiers last month.
Things are set to change in November. Salah Al-Yahyaei is injured, robbing Oman of its best creative element in the middle of the pitch. In defence, right back Ali Al-Busaidi joins left back Amjad Al-Harthi in the infirmary.
Oman has struggled to fill the right back position for years and has even resorted to playing Al-Yahmadi or Arshad Alawi out of position. It remains to be seen if Rashid Jaber does that or gives a chance to a young player to stake his claim. Other than Ali Al-Kaabi who will likely deputise on the left flank in Busaidi’s absence the other five defenders in the side are untested with a mere six caps between them.
Formation
If Daboub is reluctant to change his personnel the question then becomes whether or not he will tinker with his formation. Since the 2023 Asian Cup finals, Daboub has stuck to playing a 4-4-2 formation whilst in possession. While Palestine have exhibited tactical nous sitting in two blocks of four in a number of games (Australia, South Korea, Iraq) the formation in possession is an inhibitor.
The team is not converting the chances it creates and in many games the two most dangerous players on the pitch were isolated from the rest of their teammates running and hoping the ball would come to them.
That approach is a departure from how the team played in the first year of the Daboub Era.
That team was a 4-3-3 team and while initially Dabbagh was deployed as a striker he reverted to his position out wide during the Asian Cup qualifiers with equally devastating effect. With Wessam Abou Ali and Moustafa Zeidan in the fold fans have every right to demand a return to the old formation. Given the team’s comfort with it, it might be easier to deploy that shape if the team is asked to press high up the pitch.
Anticipated Starting XIs
Palestine (4-3-3): Rami Hamadi; Musab Al-Battat ©, Amid Mahajana, Michel Termanini, Wajdi Nabhan; Odai Kharoub, Ataa Jaber, Moustafa Zeidan; Zaid Qunbar, Oday Dabbagh, Wessam Abou Ali
Oman (4-4-2): Ibrahim Al-Mukhaini; Jameel Al-Yahmadi, Mohammed Al-Musalmi ©, Ahmed Al-Khamisi, Ahmed Al-Kaabi; Abdulrahaman Al-Musharifi, Arshad Al-Alawi, Harib Al-Saadi, Hatem Rushaidi, Abdullah Fawaz, Muhsen Al-Ghassani
