Jordan FIFA World Cup 2026 preview — Jordan looks to transform Asian form into a World Cup surprise

Making his World Cup debut, Jordan is the lowest-placed team in Group J at number 63. However, his potential is much greater and could pose a threat to the European and South American favorites.

Jordan will be coached by Jamal Sellami and will be fueled by his historic run that made waves at the 2024 AFC Asian Cup.

Jordan defeated higher-ranked Japan, an Asian heavyweight and World Cup regular, 2-0 en route to the final against hosts Qatar.

They lost 3-1 in the title battle, but built on that performance by posting a strong qualification. During the two qualifying rounds, Jordan lost only three of sixteen matches and finished second in the third round, behind South Korea.

Jordan may lack big stars, but in Musa Al-Taamari and Ali Olwan, the country has national heroes who can boost their status with remarkable performances. Jordan comes to the World Cup with modest ambitions and nothing to lose.

Player to watch out for: Musa Al-Taamari

Al-Taamari is only 28 and leads the team. The attacker is one of the few players from his country who plays in Europe (Rennes in Ligue 1). He led the charge against Japan in the Asian Cup with a goal and an assist.

Manager: Jamal Sellami

The Moroccan has given Jordan what no one could do in nine previous attempts. Sellami will have to inspire his group of players as they prepare for teams with much more skill. Sellami sets up a five-player defensive line and Jordan will obviously rely heavily on his defense and counter-attacks to survive against Argentina and Austria.

Published on June 11, 2026