- 09:45
Before facing Yemen in a crucial Asian Cup qualifier, the Lebanese team will test itself against Oman in a friendly to prepare for the heat… and the adversity.
With one eye on the Asian Cup and the other on the World Cup, Lebanon is wasting no time. After thrashing Brunei (5-0) in the opening match of the qualifiers, Miodrag Radulović’s men top their group, ahead of Yemen and Bhutan, who played to a goalless draw (0-0). The stage is set: on June 10, the Cedars will face the Yemenis in what already looks to be the turning point of the group stage.
To approach this clash in the best conditions, the Lebanese Football Association has gone all out. A training camp will take place in Oman starting May 25. And above all, a high-level friendly match is scheduled against the Omani national team on May 28, a chance to build momentum and acclimate to Asian-level intensity.
Oman: a True Test Before Yemen
Oman is not Brunei. Qualified for the final round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, the Sultanate is fighting for survival in Group B, just three points behind Jordan. In other words: a tough, structured opponent, well used to the Gulf heat.
A full-scale test for the Lebanese, who will need to quickly adapt to high temperatures ahead of the clash against Yemen. The latter is also expected to host the match in a neighboring Gulf country. This gives the Cedars a double advantage: to face a solid opponent and get used to the climatic conditions.
“This training camp in Oman is a real opportunity for us,” explains Miodrag Radulović. “Playing against a team like Oman in conditions similar to the match against Yemen will allow us to adjust our rhythm, our mindset and our cohesion.”
Target Bhutan, Southeast Asia and the Arab Cup
And it’s not over. In sight: hosting Bhutan on October 9 at home, then a detour to Southeast Asia with confirmed participation in a friendly tournament in Indonesia, from September 1 to 9, alongside local teams and Malaysia.
From there, Lebanon is aiming even higher. In November, it will play a qualifying playoff match for the final phase of the 2025 Arab Cup, scheduled in Qatar from December 1 to 18. The draw will take place in the coming weeks in Doha, and ambitions are running high.
Radulović knows it: his team has a card to play. And the coming weeks will tell whether Lebanon can turn promise into performance.
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