A win off the pitch: the draw favours Oman over Iraq and sends them through to the semi-finals of Gulf 27

The luck of the draw has sent Oman through to the semi-finals of the 27th Arabian Gulf Cup, "Gulf 27", at Iraq's expense.

The Gulf Cup Football Federation staged a draw at a hotel in Jeddah to settle the second qualification spot from Group One, alongside Saudi Arabia, between Iraq and Oman. Nothing could separate the two sides.

Out came Oman's name. They join Saudi Arabia in the last four, the Saudis having topped the group with a perfect record of nine points.

دقائق من الترقب 🔥 «الشرق الأوسط» ترصد مشهد إجراء القرعة بين منتخبي #العراق و #عمان لمعرفة المتأهل منهما ... القرعة تبتسم لعمان وفرحة صاخبة في القاعة.#خليجي27 pic.twitter.com/fqprh56Hqj — الشرق الأوسط - رياضة (@aawsat_spt) September 29, 2026

Iraq and Oman finished level on four points. They had drawn their first meeting 1-1, each scored four goals and conceded five, and each picked up eight yellow cards without a single red.

The deadlock followed the third and final round of Group One. Saudi Arabia beat Iraq 2-0 at the Al-Inma Stadium in Jeddah.

Oman, meanwhile, dug out a thrilling win. Trailing 1-0 to Kuwait, they turned it around to triumph 3-1 in the closing minutes.

Now Saudi Arabia and Oman wait to discover their semi-final opponents. Group Two wraps up with Qatar facing the UAE and Yemen taking on Bahrain.