Oman advance to Gulf Cup semi-finals after drawing of lots
Oman progressed to the semi-finals of the Gulf Cup on 30 September 2026 after they were selected ahead of Iraq in a drawing of lots to determine who would finish second in their group. The decision followed Oman's 3-1 victory over Kuwait, which left both Oman and Iraq level on four points with identical records.
Organisers said the draw was used only after applying "the selection criteria stipulated in the regulations" and reported that the teams remained tied through successive tie-breakers. Those criteria included "head-to-head results, goal difference, number of goals, and disciplinary card points", and officials added that Oman and Iraq were level "until the final criterion was reached". With yellow cards counted in the disciplinary category, the booking situation became decisive.
Oman's Musab Al-Shaqsy missed the chance to avoid that final decider after he was booked for taking his shirt off following a celebration, a sanction the report says he picked up against Kuwait. The article also states that, after Al-Shaqsy scored his side's third goal late on in their win over Iraq he was yellow carded for taking his top off during his celebration.
The report notes a separate wrinkle involving Iran, stating that Oman and Iran, who were beaten 2-0 by Saudi Arabia in their final group game, were level on everything else and therefore even on disciplinary points. Because those criteria left the positions unresolved, lots were drawn "in the presence of representatives of the concerned authorities" and the outcome saw Oman advance to the last four.
The drawing of lots has precedents in international tournaments, the story records, citing the Africa Cup of Nations in 2015 when Guinea progressed to the quarter-finals at the expense of Mali after the pair finished level in their group. It also recalls the 1990 World Cup in Italy when the Netherlands and the Republic of Ireland required a lot to decide second and third: the draw awarded Ireland second place and a match against Romania, while the Netherlands were placed third and faced eventual winners West Germany.
An earlier example given is from the 1970 World Cup, when lots were required to determine the group winner between the Soviet Union and Mexico and the Soviet Union were deemed group winners. The piece adds that although a drawing of lots had not been needed since 1994, it remained the final tie-breaker until the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, after which it was replaced by teams' positions in the latest Fifa world rankings.
Oman therefore advances to the Gulf Cup semi-finals as a result of the lot-drawing process, with their passage to the last four confirmed by the organisers' application of the tournament regulations.