Day One in Muscat

The WC Qualifying Tournament for Tent Pegging – Oman 2026, Group C started on 17th September 2026 at the Royal Oman Police Mounted Unit grounds in Al Wattayah, Muscat, organized together by the International Tent Pegging Federation (ITPF), Oman's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, and the Oman Equestrian & Racing Federation (OERFOM).

Day 1 followed the usual schedule before competition begins: a Technical Meeting at 4:00 PM, the Horse Draw at 5:00 PM, Horse Practice at 6:00 PM, and a Welcome Ceremony at 8:30 PM. Riders and officials from every nation attended the technical meeting. Horses were then drawn and taken through their first practice run in Oman. The tournament runs through 20th September.

Horses Cleared to Compete

Along with the technical meetings, every horse in the tournament is going through a full veterinary check — organizers describe it as \"a vital step before the competition begins, ensuring every horse is fit, healthy, and ready to perform at the highest level.\" No horse can compete in Muscat unless it is passed fit by the vets.

Seven Nations, One Group

Group C is bigger than first reported. The official ITPF list confirms seven nations are competing for qualification:

Sultanate of Oman (host nation)
Islamic Republic of Pakistan
State of Qatar
United Kingdom
United States of America
Republic of Uzbekistan
Islamic Republic of Iran

This is one more nation than earlier reported. The United Kingdom joins the USA, Qatar, Oman, Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Iran on the list, making Group C the most spread-out of all four World Cup qualifying groups.

Where Group C Fits In

The 5th Tent Pegging World Cup 2026 includes 29 countries across four qualifying groups, with ten total spots for the Jordan finals. Three of the four groups have already produced their qualifiers:

Group A — Sudan and South Africa qualified, ahead of Russia, Belarus, Iraq, Malaysia and Kazakhstan
Group B — Saudi Arabia and India qualified, ahead of Jordan, Indonesia, Germany, Kuwait, Norway and Algeria
Group D — Egypt and Yemen qualified

Group C in Muscat is the only group not yet decided. ITPF has also confirmed a play-off tournament for later, where the third-place teams from each group will compete for one more World Cup spot. This means even a third-place finish in Muscat would keep Pakistan's chances alive.

What It Means for Pakistan

Pakistan enters Group C after a training camp built for this tournament. The team finished second at the 2023 World Cup in South Africa, and won the 2025 Pakistan International Tent Pegging Championship. With the technical meeting and horse draw now complete, Pakistan's campaign in Muscat has begun.

Neza will continue covering the Group C tournament as it moves through lance, sword, and rings-and-pegs competition over the coming days.

Sources: Oman Equestrian & Racing Federation (Instagram) · ITPF Official (Instagram)