Muscat  – Newly appointed head coach of Oman’s national football team, Carlos Queiroz, has set a clear objective – securing qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Speaking during his introductory press conference in Muscat on Tuesday, the Portuguese coach outlined his strategy and called for national unity in pursuit of what he described as a historic opportunity.

“We cannot lie to ourselves. If we lie to and deceive ourselves, we will not be able to achieve success,” Queiroz said. “Honesty is very important, and here we are for smart work to achieve success on the field.”

Officially appointed in July, Queiroz has previously helped six different countries qualify for the World Cup. He stressed that achieving such a milestone with Oman would require collective commitment from all stakeholders.

“Everyone should understand that this is an important mission and the efforts of everyone –  players, clubs, managers and officials – must be combined,” he said. “This is an opportunity that has never existed in the history of Oman. We must seize it to achieve the dream.”

The 71-year-old coach has already begun work by assessing the team and individual players. The national side is scheduled to hold a training camp in Türkiye ahead of its participation in the Central Asian Championship in Uzbekistan.

“Oman has over 5mn people, but we need to have one beating heart,” Queiroz said. “This dream is our mission, and we must bring this pride to Oman through discipline and correct behaviour.”

The former Real Madrid manager noted that a more detailed plan will be unveiled in October outlining the roadmap to World Cup qualification.

“The priority now is to mobilise the energy and resources for World Cup qualification,” he said. “After October, we will present the plan on how to advance with Omani football.”

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, offers expanded qualification slots, making it a potentially more accessible tournament for emerging football nations like Oman.