Muscat – As football supporters around the world focus on the FIFA World Cup, an Omani collector is celebrating the game in his own way – not from the stands, but through a collection of more than 210 national team and football association jerseys gathered from across the globe.

For 30-year-old Taha Saif Ali Al Khadhouri from Rustaq, every shirt tells a story. Behind the colours and badges are nations, cultures and moments in football history that he has spent years preserving.

His fascination with the game began at the age of five. What started as a childhood hobby gradually evolved into a mission to build one of the region’s most diverse collections of international football jerseys.

Speaking to Muscat Daily, Al Khadhouri said the turning point came when he received a Brazil national team shirt as a gift from Qatari media personality Ahmed Muftah.

“That jersey changed everything,” he said. “I realised I was not collecting pieces of fabric but symbols of countries and the stories behind them.”

Today his collection includes shirts from more than 210 nations and football associations, many of which took years to acquire. Some came from countries with limited access to international markets, forcing him to rely on contacts, collectors and persistence to track them down.

Rather than chasing the latest designs, Al Khadhouri is particularly interested in older jerseys with historical significance. He believes shirts associated with landmark tournaments or iconic players often become lasting records of football history.

Although Brazil remains one of his favourite footballing nations, he believes the current World Cup has become increasingly unpredictable, with emerging teams capable of challenging established powers.

If he were ever to attend a World Cup final, however, there is no doubt about what he would wear. “I would choose the Oman national team jersey,” he said. “It would be my way of representing my country while celebrating the global game.”

Growing up in a small village, far from specialist sports retailers and collectors’ markets, never discouraged him. Instead, he hopes his experience encourages young Omanis to pursue ambitions that may seem out of reach.

“Believe in yourself, ignore negativity and keep working towards your goal,” he said. “Determination can take you further than circumstances.”