Muscat – Oman has qualified for the FIFAe World Cup 2026 in Rocket League after finishing third at the FIFAe Continental Championship Asia and defeating New Zealand in a decisive playoff.

The Omani team of Sultan Al Balushi, Noah Al Mahmoudi and Abdullah Al Amri, coached by Dutchman Overmeer, competed in Kuala Lumpur from August 21 to 23.

Oman advanced from the group stage before producing a dominant 4-0 win over India in the quarterfinals.

Its run was halted in the semifinals by Australia, who won 4-0, but Oman responded strongly in the bronze-medal match by defeating hosts Malaysia by the same score.

The third-place finish earned Oman a playoff opportunity against New Zealand for a place at the FIFAe World Cup.

Oman won the contest 4-2 to confirm qualification for the global tournament for the second consecutive year.

The team had reached the continental championship after competing through three rounds of FIFAe League qualifiers in West Asia, accumulating enough points to secure a place among Asia’s leading sides.

Saba bint Saeed Al Busaidi, Head of the Omani Committee for Games and eSports, said the result reflected the progress being made in the country’s competitive gaming sector.

“The qualification of Oman’s national team to the World Cup for the second time in a row is an achievement we are proud of,” Saba said.

She added that the result demonstrated the ability of Omani players to compete at the highest level and was the outcome of continued work on national-team development and technical preparation.

The committee, she said, is seeking to strengthen Oman’s presence in regional and international competitions while building a sustainable eSports sector.