DOHA : Jordan national football team will make its long-awaited FIFA World Cup debut at the 2026 tournament in North America, aiming to build on a remarkable rise that has transformed the country’s football landscape in recent years.
After several near misses in previous qualifying campaigns, Jordan finally secured a place on the world’s biggest stage following an impressive run through the Asian qualifiers. The achievement came on the back of a breakthrough period that saw the team finish runners-up to hosts Qatar national football team at the 2023 AFC Asian Cup and claim second place at the 2025 Arab Cup.
Jordan booked direct qualification by finishing second in a challenging qualifying group that included South Korea national football team, Iraq national football team, Oman national football team, Kuwait national football team and Palestine national football team. The Jordanians accumulated 16 points from four wins, four draws and two defeats.
Jordan have been drawn into a demanding Group G alongside defending champions Argentina national football team, Austria national football team and Algeria national football team.
Their campaign begins against Austria in San Francisco on June 16, followed by a meeting with Algeria on June 22 before a final group-stage clash with Argentina in Arlington on June 27.
Key Players
Jordan’s hopes will largely rest on a core group of experienced internationals led by Mousa Al Tamari, currently with Stade Rennais. He is joined by Ali Olwan, Ali Olazayza, defender Yazan Al-Arab and midfielder Nizar Al Rashdan.
However, the squad has been hit by injuries, with striker Yazan Al Naimat among several key absentees after suffering a serious ACL injury during the Arab Cup. Midfielder Tamer Bani Odeh and players including Adham Al-Quraishi and Issam Smeeri are also unavailable.
Sellami’s Impact
Since taking charge in June 2024, Moroccan coach Jamal Sellami has overseen Jordan’s most successful period. He succeeded fellow Moroccan Hussein Ammouta and quickly established a disciplined, tactically organized side built on teamwork and rapid transitions.
Sellami guided Jordan to their historic World Cup qualification and later led an injury-hit squad to the 2025 Arab Cup final, further enhancing the team’s reputation.
More Than Participation
For Jordan, simply reaching the World Cup represents a landmark achievement. Yet expectations have grown alongside the team’s development, and the objective in North America extends beyond participation.
The Jordanians will seek to demonstrate that their qualification was the result of sustained progress rather than a one-off success, while aiming to showcase the strength of both Jordanian and Arab football on the global stage during their first-ever World Cup appearance.
