Muscat: This comes as the latest blow to the team’s standing, continuing a downward slide that began last month after losses to Iraq and South Korea.

Following a victory against Kuwait, Oman had gained 8 points, but the loss to Jordan resulted in a deduction of 11 points, ultimately putting the team at a net loss of 3 points in the October ranking, due to be released on October 24. The team, which held the 76th spot globally with 1,326 points in July, will now see its ranking slip to 80th. This marks Oman’s lowest ranking since May 2021.

The team’s decline has been steady since losing its ninth continental spot to Uzbekistan last November after falling to Kyrgyzstan in the Asian qualifiers. Oman, which once held a prominent position at 73rd globally and ninth on the continent in April last year, now finds itself in the 12th continental position.

Oman’s best recent standing was in August 2014, when it ranked 67th globally and seventh in Asia under French coach Paul Le Guen. The national team’s all-time best FIFA ranking was 50th in August 2004 during the tenure of Czech coach Milan Macala, following a standout performance in the Asian Nations Championship.