This is a decisive fixture for fourth place in Group B, which secures progression to the next round of the qualifiers. Oman are one point ahead of Palestine and will advance even with a draw. Meanwhile, Palestine require nothing less than a win. The match will be played on neutral ground, which effectively eliminates home advantage. With both sides likely to adopt a cautious approach and the stakes extremely high, a tight and tense encounter is expected.
Palestine revived their qualification hopes at the last minute. Recent victories over Iraq (2:1) and Kuwait (2:0) re-ignited the battle in the group standings. The squad defended solidly in both matches, although their finishing remains inconsistent. On average, they score just once per game, and despite registering a combined 31 shots against Kuwait and Iraq, they only managed four goals. Notably, they held just 34% possession against Kuwait.
Oman have alternated between wins and setbacks throughout the campaign. They have collected 10 points, including a 1:0 win over Palestine in the reverse fixture. The team remained in the qualification zone until a heavy 3:0 defeat to Jordan in the previous round. Over their last six qualifying matches, Oman have scored only three goals and finished under 2.5 Total Goals in four of them.
A cautious scenario seems likely here: Oman only need a draw, while Palestine struggle with efficiency in front of goal. Oman have lost just once in their last five head-to-head meetings with Palestine. Furthermore, prospects for Palestine on neutral ground appear limited. Both teams are expected to avoid taking unnecessary risks given the high price of a mistake. This forms the basis for the combination bet.