USMNT vs Oman Odds: Oman Could Sneak Into World Cup

• The USMNT beat Uzbekistan 3-0 in their first post-summer friendly at the weekend
• Oman are another opponent that the USA really should be beating comfortably
• It is hard to look past another victory for the USMNT - find the best odds here

USMNT vs Oman Odds

The odds for USMNT vs Oman have been taken from the SI sportsbook, where you could win $200 in free bets if you bet $20.

USMNT vs Oman Pick

• Back the USA to beat Oman and over 2.5 goals. 
• The hosts should have too much ability for their opponents to handle.

USMNT Look To Build Short-Term Momentum but Focus Is 2026

The USMNT got Gregg Berhalter’s second spell in charge of the national team off to a perfect start at the weekend. Uzbekistan were beaten 3-0 by Berhalter’s boys, who were given the lead by Timothy Weah in the fourth minute.

The match remained tight in terms of the scoreline until second-half stoppage time when Ricardo Pepi and Christian Pulisic found the back of the net to give the USA a more comprehensive victory.

Not everyone agreed with the decision to reinstall Berhalter. His contract ended at the end of World Cup 2022, in which the USMNT gave a respectable showing by reaching the round of 16 and bowing out at the hands of the Netherlands.

But amid historic domestic abuse allegations, Berhalter’s deal was not renewed. An investigation into the issue found that the 1992 incident was a one-off, thus paving the way for the manager to return. Yet the federation could just have easily looked elsewhere, with Patrick Vieria, Jesse Marsch and Jim Curtin all linked with the position.

Berhalter continues to divide opinion, but it is worth remembering that he inherited a team that failed to qualify for World Cup 2018, then led them to the knockout phase of the very next tournament. 

The aim will be to go one better in four years’ time by reaching the quarter-finals. The USA are one of three co-hosts for World Cup 2026, which will be the first edition to feature 48 teams. But Berhalter himself appeared to suggest the USMNT have plenty of room for improvement before then.

"I think we use this game as a learning tool," he said after the Uzbekistan win. "We can improve and we need to improve and we will. I really, really liked the mindset in the last 10 minutes of the game. 

“You could see the guys still wanted to push. I think that it's a good baseline for us to start and say this is what international competition from other regions looks like.”

Oman Among the Teams Who Could Sneak Into World Cup

Despite the fact that Berhalter was not completely satisfied with every element of his side’s display at the weekend, the USA were deserved winners. Uzbekistan, for context, are ranked 74th in the world. Oman sit 73rd, so in theory, the two teams are evenly matched.

Both opponents will hope to take advantage of the expansion of the World Cup, which now has space for 16 additional nations. The guaranteed spots available to Asia will double from four to eight.

As Berhalter intimated in the quote above, the USA are trying to get as much experience as possible in playing teams from outside the CONCACAF region. There is only so much you can learn from yet another meeting with Canada or Mexico.

That makes sense, especially as the USMNT will not need to qualify for 2026 as co-hosts. Next month’s clashes with Germany and Ghana will be tougher, yet it is still a smart idea to face lower-ranked but still-decent teams from other continents - like Uzbekistan and Oman.

Oman reached the final stage of the Asian qualification process for 2022 but only finished fourth in a tough group containing Saudi Arabia, Japan, Australia, China, and Vietnam. But a similar showing this time around could well earn them a spot in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

Oman are on a four-match unbeaten streak at present, although their last defeat was a 3-0 reverse to Uzbekistan in June. However, they did reach the final of the Arabian Gulf Cup earlier this year.

USMNT Unlikely to Be Denied Another Win in September Break

The USMNT are nevertheless strong favorites to win this match. When the hosts were eliminated in the semi-finals of the Gold Cup, many criticized the decision to leave BJ Callaghan in charge of the team instead of handing the reins to Berhalter.

Perhaps in part because of the USA’s failure to triumph or even reach the final, they named a strong squad for the September international break. And assuming Berhalter does not make too many changes to his XI, it is hard to see Oman coming away with a positive result.

If they are already ahead, the USA could make substitutions in the second half in order to give a run-out to other members of the squad. Anyone who is introduced like that will be desperate to make an impression ahead of next month’s meetings with Germany and Ghana.

Meanwhile, Oman have scored in nine of their last 10 games, which suggests they will not simply sit back and hope for the best. All in all, a win for Berhalter’s men and over 2.5 goals looks like the best way to go in this one. 

How to Watch USMNT vs Oman

• Teams: USMNT vs Oman 
• Location: Allianz Field, Saint Paul, United States.
• Date and Time: Sep. 12, 2023, 8 p.m. ET 
• How to Watch: TNT, Telemundo