Saudi Arabia vs Oman Prediction: Saudi Arabia will start their campaign on a positive note

In the inaugural match of the esteemed AFC Asian Cup at the Khalifa International Stadium, Saudi Arabia is set to face off against Oman. Following their notable victory against Argentina in the 2022 Qatar World Cup, Saudi Arabia now aims for glory at the AFC Asian Cup, kicking off their campaign against Oman on Tuesday. The stage is set for an exhilarating contest at the Khalifa International Stadium, and our prediction inclines towards a victory for Saudi Arabia. Please refer to the meticulously prepared tips for further insights.

The three-time Asian Cup champions, Saudi Arabia, commence their campaign in Qatar on Tuesday evening, facing Group F rivals Oman at Khalifa International Stadium. Following a year of significant improvements in the Saudi Pro League, the Saudi Arabia National team, led by head coach Roberto Mancini, has remained unbeaten in their last 5 games.

In the AFC 2026 World Cup qualifiers, they secured a 4-0 victory against Pakistan, extending their unbeaten run with two wins and a draw in their last three games. Impressively, Saudi Arabia has maintained a clean sheet in their recent three matches. In this month's friendlies, they defeated Lebanon 1-0, played to a goalless draw with Palestine in Doha, and secured a 2-0 victory against Hong Kong on Wednesday. While Saudi Arabia is a three-time champion, their last Asian Cup triumph was in 1996. Despite reaching three finals, the last one being in 2007, they aim to kick off their campaign on a positive note. We anticipate that they will secure a win or a draw in this encounter.

Oman is set for their fifth appearance in the Asian Cup, having exited the group stages in three out of the four previous occasions. Their sole advancement came in the latest edition in 2019, where they reached the round of 16. Approaching this game, they carry momentum from their last two victories. They secured a 0-2 win against China and followed it up with a narrow 0-1 victory in their final international friendly. While they aim for a positive outcome in their first AFC Asian Cup game, they are well aware that defeating Saudi Arabia on Tuesday will require more than just hope.

A critical look at their last 11 encounters produced 3 victories for each team and five draws.

Saudi Arabia boasts a rich legacy in the AFC Asian Cup, having secured the title three times and finishing as runners-up on three occasions. Despite a less impressive recent history in the tournament, they aim to alter that narrative in the upcoming competition. Following their noteworthy performance in the World Cup, Saudi Arabia emerges as a team to watch, making a victory or draw for them a plausible outcome in this game. Anticipating a closely contested encounter, our prediction leans towards a win or draw with a total of over 1.5 goals for Saudi Arabia.