Government
Units 8-a-side Football Championship Witnesses Intense Competition

Muscat,
13 Jan 2026 (ONA) — The 2026 Government Units 8-a-side Football
Championship, organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth in Muscat, has entered its final
stages following the conclusion of the preliminary round matches.

Eight
matches are scheduled to take place this evening, featuring the Shura Council
against the Royal Court Affairs; the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning
against the Authority for Public Services Regulation; the Ministry of Social
Development against the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources;
and the SMEs Development Authority ‘Riyada’ against the Ministry of Heritage
and Tourism. Other fixtures include the Environment Authority against the
Telecommunications Regulatory Authority; the Supreme Judiciary Council against
the Diwan of Royal Court; and the National Records and Archives Authority
against the Ministry of Interior.

The
knockout stages will commence next Monday with the Round of 16, featuring the
top two teams from each of the eight groups. The participating teams were
initially divided into eight groups, with four teams in each group. The
tournament activities are set to conclude on Wednesday, 24 January.

Through
the organization of this championship, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and
Youth aims to provide a competitive sporting outlet for government employees
and to facilitate integration and interaction among government institutions.
The event seeks to enhance social ties among staff, promote a culture of
sportsmanship, and encourage physical activity. Additionally, the initiative
aims to alleviate work-related stress and create an organized sporting movement
that contributes to improving public health.

—Ends/AG