Doha: Qatar's national football team, the Maroons, embark on their quest in the fourth round of Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup tomorrow, Wednesday, with a crucial match against brotherly rivals Oman. The match will be held at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium at 6:00 PM.

The team's opening match against Oman carries significant weight, as it is the key to securing a second consecutive World Cup appearance and the first achieved directly through the qualifiers. The Maroons previously appeared at the last FIFA World Cup in 2022 as the host nation. A victory is essential to gain an early advantage in the race for qualification, with the team's needs for its final match against the UAE on the 14th hinging on the outcome of the Oman-UAE clash on the 11th.

The draw for this round placed Qatar in Group A alongside Oman and the UAE, with all matches being held in Doha from tomorrow until the 14th of this month. Group B, featuring Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Indonesia, will contest its matches in Saudi Arabia during the same period.

Ahead of this pivotal Gulf clash, which historically has seen no prolonged dominance by either side, Spanish head coach Julen Lopetegui addressed the media on Tuesday. "We will face a strong team, and we know the match will not be easy for either side, but we are ready for this type of game and we trust in our ability to deliver the required performance," Lopetegui stated. He added, "We know that this qualification is a dream for everyone here in Qatar, and we are determined to achieve it for ourselves, for our fans, and for everyone who stands behind the national team."

The task for the Maroons will not be straightforward. However, history offers encouragement. Qatar holds a clear advantage in the head-to-head record within qualifiers, having met Oman six times, winning four and drawing two, with a goal difference of 9-1. This dominance extends to their last six encounters across all competitions, where Qatar has won four, lost one, and drawn one, scoring 11 goals to Oman's seven.