Oman Snatch World Cup Qualifying Draw Late on in South Korea

South Korea's Son Heung-min takes a free kick - AFP
South Korea's Son Heung-min takes a free kick - AFP
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Oman Snatch World Cup Qualifying Draw Late on in South Korea

South Korea's Son Heung-min takes a free kick - AFP
South Korea's Son Heung-min takes a free kick - AFP

South Korea conceded a goal with 10 minutes left as Oman stunned Son Heung-min's side to snatch a precious 1-1 away draw in World Cup qualifying on Thursday.

The hosts looked set for all three points after Wolves striker Hwang Hee-chan put them ahead in the first half with a clinical finish.

But Ali Al Busaidi struck from just outside the box on 80 minutes to stun most of the crowd at Goyang Stadium, AFP reported.

South Korea still lead Asian qualifying Group B and are in a strong position to join Japan, the first team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, in North America.

They face Asian Cup finalists Jordan on Tuesday at home.

South Korea took the lead four minutes before the break when Paris Saint-Germain's Lee Kang-in picked out Hwang with a superb threaded through ball.

Hwang took one touch with his right foot to set himself up and with his left foot rifled the ball past goalkeeper Ibrahim Al Mukhaini into the bottom opposite corner.

Skipper and talisman Son, who has struggled for form and fitness this season with an underwhelming Tottenham side, tried his luck from distance in first-half injury time.

The 32-year-old threatened again shortly after the break as Hong Myung-bo's team went in search of a second goal.

Oman rarely threatened until up popped Busaidi with a left-footed strike that wrong-footed goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo.

South Korea have 15 points, with Iraq second in the group on 11 but having played a game less.

Jordan are third on nine with Oman fourth on seven points, with three games left to play.

The top two are guaranteed to qualify, with teams finishing third and fourth going into a further qualifying round.



New Zealand Qualify for 2026 World Cup with 3-0 Win Over New Caledonia

New Zealand's team celebrate after their victory during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Oceania qualifiers group final football match between New Zealand and New Caledonia at Eden Park Stadium in Auckland on March 24, 2025. (Photo by DAVID ROWLAND / AFP)
New Zealand's team celebrate after their victory during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Oceania qualifiers group final football match between New Zealand and New Caledonia at Eden Park Stadium in Auckland on March 24, 2025. (Photo by DAVID ROWLAND / AFP)
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New Zealand Qualify for 2026 World Cup with 3-0 Win Over New Caledonia

New Zealand's team celebrate after their victory during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Oceania qualifiers group final football match between New Zealand and New Caledonia at Eden Park Stadium in Auckland on March 24, 2025. (Photo by DAVID ROWLAND / AFP)
New Zealand's team celebrate after their victory during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Oceania qualifiers group final football match between New Zealand and New Caledonia at Eden Park Stadium in Auckland on March 24, 2025. (Photo by DAVID ROWLAND / AFP)

New Zealand qualified for the 2026 World Cup on Monday as veterans Michael Boxall and Kosta Barbarouses scored in a second-half burst to beat New Caledonia 3-0 in Auckland.
Centre back Boxall scored his first goal for New Zealand in his 55th international with a header on the one hour mark at Eden Park before Barbarouses volleyed over the goalkeeper five minutes later.
Substitute Elijah Just capped the win with a third goal in the 80th minute as the All Whites celebrated the nation's third World Cup appearance after 1982 and 2010.
While New Zealand won the regional qualifying round for the last three tournaments, they missed out on the finals after losing in the intercontinental playoffs.
For 2026, whichever team topped the table in Oceania had an automatic berth in the finals for the first time.
New Zealand become the second team to qualify, with Japan - competing in the Asian region - booking their ticket with a 2-0 home win over Bahrain last week.
Injury soured New Zealand's victory slightly with captain Chris Wood limping off early in the second half.
Ranked 152nd in the world and dominated by amateur footballers, the Pacific territory of New Caledonia battled hard to keep the All Whites from scoring for more than 60 minutes before Boxall's header proved the breakthrough.
New Caledonia will have another chance to qualify for 2026, which is being held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, in the intercontinental playoffs.