Three-time Asian Cup winners Saudi Arabia kick off their campaign in Qatar on Tuesday evening, as they take on Group F rivals Oman at Khalifa International Stadium.
The two teams meet in Al Rayyan, both aiming for a fast start to a section also featuring Thailand and Kyrgyzstan.
Match preview
Recently named hosts of the 2030 World Cup, Saudi Arabia's planned path towards those finals includes securing a spot at the 2026 edition and claiming their first Asian Cup triumph since 1996.
After a year of eye-catching recruitment to the Saudi Pro League, the Green Falcons made strides towards the first objective by ending 2023 with a perfect record in World Cup qualifying.
A 4-0 victory over Pakistan gave head coach Roberto Mancini his first success since arriving in August, as Saleh Al-Shehri - scorer of Saudi's equaliser against Argentina at the last global finals - netted twice.
The Al-Hilal striker then bagged two more against Jordan five days later, before Saudi Arabia shifted focus to their return to Qatar, where they stunned the Argentinians just over a year ago.
Keeping three clean sheets, Mancini's men have played a trio of friendlies this month, beating Lebanon 1-0 and then drawing 0-0 with Palestine in Doha before concluding their preparations against Hong Kong on Wednesday.
A 2-0 win extended Saudi's unbeaten run to five matches ahead of their Group F opener, which comes almost a year to the day they last met Oman.
Harib Al-Saadi's late winner secured success over Saudi Arabia when the teams most recently convened, with Oman prevailing 2-1 at last year's Gulf Cup.
The Reds now prepare to meet their West Asian rivals again, having beaten UAE 1-0 in a friendly fixture last week, thanks to a fifth-minute strike from Abdullah Fawaz.
Although they remain outsiders to reach the latter stages of the Asian Cup, which they have never won before, the Omanis reached the knockout phase in 2019 and then finished only a point behind Australia in pursuit of a place at Qatar 2022.
As even four of the third-placed teams go through, a side overseen by Branko Ivanovic - who took Iran to Germany 2006 - should expect to progress on this occasion, despite making an uneven start to reaching the next World Cup.
Oman trail Malaysia in AFC qualifying after losing 1-0 to Kyrgyzstan in November, just days after starting out with a serene success at home to Chinese Tapei. They will, therefore, have to step up a gear if they are to upset the Group F favourites on Tuesday.
Team News
Both hampered by injury, Ayman Yahya and Abbas Al-Hassan have been cut from Saudi Arabia's final squad for this month's finals, alongside Al-Nassr goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi.
In addition, Roberto Mancini - who named an entirely Saudi-based selection - has sent Rayan Hamid back to the Under-23 Olympic team camp; the Italian coach has also left out more than a dozen of the 2022 World Cup squad.
With 79 caps, winger Salem Al-Dawsari - who was sent off in the recent game against Palestine - should join Al-Hilal teammates Ali Al-Bulaihi and Saud Abdulhamid in the Green Falcons' starting XI, alongside Al-Ahly's Firas Al-Buraikan, who has often started ahead of Roberto Firmino in the Saudi Pro League.
Like their opponents, Oman have no players currently playing in Europe, and experienced midfielder Harib Al-Saadi is their most-capped squad member.
Qatar-based Jameel Al-Yahmadi is also set to feature for the Reds, who may adjust the 4-3-3 formation used against AFC minnows in recent World Cup qualifying fixtures, with an eye on combating the Saudis' attacking intent.
Saudi Arabia possible starting lineup:
Al-Najjar; Tambakti, Al-Bulaihi, Al-Saluli; Abdulhamid, Al-Malki, Al-Hassan, Al-Dawsari, Kadesh; Al-Shehri, Al-Buraikan
Oman possible starting lineup:
Al-Rushaidi; Al-Yahmadi, Al-Khamisi, Al-Braiki, Al-Kaabi; Al-Aghbari, Fawaz, Al-Saadi, Al-Adawi, Saleh; Al-Sabhi
We say: Saudi Arabia 1-1 Oman
Starting with perhaps their trickiest test of the group stage, Saudi Arabia could find Oman a tough nut to crack and may have to settle for a draw from their Asian Cup opener. The Reds are set up to contain bigger teams and counter-attack at pace, and that should help them pick up a point.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
body check tags ::
Previews by email
