Iraq vs Oman Prediction, Odds and Betting tips

Iraq vs Oman Prediction, Odds and Betting Tips

Competition: 27th Arabian Gulf Cup · Date: 2026-09-23 · Kick-off: 17:30 local time · Round: Group A · Venue/location: Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium, Jeddah

Iraq and Oman open Group A of the 27th Arabian Gulf Cup on September 23 in Jeddah. The competition is being played in Saudi Arabia, and the opening match puts two sides with recent Gulf Cup pedigree into a group that also contains Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Iraq enter the tournament after returning to the World Cup in 2026, while Oman arrive under Tarik Sektioui after finishing runners-up in each of the previous two Gulf Cups.

Graham Arnold selected a 26-player Iraq squad and made several meaningful choices. Aymen Hussein has been recalled, giving Iraq an established penalty-box reference, while veteran goalkeeper Jalal Hassan was left out. The group includes Ahmed Yahya, Hussein Hassan, Mohammed Saleh and Ahmed Basil among the goalkeeping options; Mustafa Saadoun, Merchas Doski, Akam Hashim, Zaid Tahseen and Mitham Jabbar in the defensive group; and Zaidan Iqbal, Ibrahim Bayesh, Amir Al-Ammari, Ali Jassim, Ali Al-Hamadi and Aymen Hussein among the midfield and attacking options. Arnold has described the selection as a mix of experience and younger players after Iraq's difficult World Cup group stage.

Oman have also changed important pieces. Sektioui named 26 players for his first official competition as head coach. Ibrahim Al-Mukhaini, Ahmed Al-Rawahi and Ibrahim Al-Rajhi are the goalkeepers, while Harib Al-Saadi, Khalid Al-Buraiki, Mohsin Al-Ghassani, Jameel Al-Yahmadi, Ahmed Al-Kaabi, Amjad Al-Harthi, Abdullah Fawaz, Zaher Al-Aghbari, Esam Al-Subhi and Arshad Al-Alawi are among the more recognisable names retained.

The Oman list has significant absences. Al Mundhir Al-Alawi, Abdulrahman Al-Mushaifri, Salah Al-Yahyai, Ahmed Al-Khamisi, Mohammed Al-Ghafri, Thani Al-Rushaidi and Abdulsalam Al-Shukaili were not selected. Mohammed Al-Musallmi, Fayiz Al-Rushaidi and Ali Al-Busaidi are unavailable after international retirement. Eleven players in Sektioui's group are set for their first Gulf Cup, so this is not simply the same Oman side that reached the last final.

A projected Iraq XI is Ahmed Basil; Mustafa Saadoun, Zaid Tahseen, Akam Hashim, Merchas Doski; Amir Al-Ammari, Zaidan Iqbal; Ibrahim Bayesh, Ali Jassim, Mohammed Qasim; Aymen Hussein. A projected Oman XI is Ibrahim Al-Mukhaini; Amjad Al-Harthi, Khalid Al-Buraiki, Ahmed Al-Kaabi, Musab Al-Shaqsi; Harib Al-Saadi, Abdullah Fawaz, Arshad Al-Alawi; Jameel Al-Yahmadi, Mohsin Al-Ghassani, Esam Al-Subhi. Both are expected lineups, not confirmed starting XIs.

The market combination fits a match in which Iraq can use the stronger central attacking reference provided by Hussein without needing to force a high-scoring game. Oman have enough experience to make the opener competitive, but the number of changes in their tournament squad increases uncertainty around attacking fluency. The Under 3.5 leg also provides room for a 2-1 scoreline rather than requiring a low-event 1-0 or 0-0.

Statistical coverage is partial: a complete 22/22 Statistical Core with comparable current-cycle HOME data for Iraq and AWAY data for Oman, including xG, xGA, shots, shots on target, possession and corners, is unavailable in the cited material. Those metrics remain unavailable rather than being estimated.

Market price and value

Conclusion

Sources

- 964media — Graham Arnold's 26-player Iraq Gulf Cup squad, September 16, 2026 - Oman Observer — Tarik Sektioui's Oman Gulf Cup squad, September 15, 2026 - The National — Gulf Cup 27 schedule, September 22, 2026 - ESPN — Iraq vs Oman fixture