Despite losing the 2025 FIFA Arab Cup final to his native Morocco, Jordan head coach Jamal Sellami said teams at next year’s World Cup will be wary of the threat his team poses. He unveiled an extensive plan to prepare for the tournament.
Sellami was appointed Jordan’s coach in the middle of last year. He then secured the country’s first ever qualification for the World Cup, before leading the country to a first top-flight match at the Arab Cup, where the side lost 2–3 to the Moroccans after extra time.
When asked about his team’s plans for the 2026 showpiece, which will see Jordan placed in Group J with Argentina, Algeria and Austria, Sellami outlined a two-phase plan to get his team ready.
«In March we will play friendly matches in preparation for the World Cup. We want to play with teams that are at the same level as Argentina and Austria. We have played against Algeria before and the team closest was Morocco, who we played against. All teams at the World Cup will think twice when they face us,» Sellami told reporters on Thursday.
READ ALSO | Qatar’s Lusail Stadium is ready to host Spain and Argentina in the Men’s Finalissima 2026
But before hosting friendly matches, the coach will travel with the Jordan Under-23 squad to Saudi Arabia for the AFC Asian Cup in January. «We want to ensure that the U-23 team puts in a strong performance in the Asian Cup. We are keeping an eye on a number of players in that group and we hope that they will be the future players of the senior national team.»
Sellami also revealed that he had rejected an offer to be part of the Technical Study Group of the Africa Cup of Nations, saying: «I have a responsibility towards the Jordanian league. I have decided to go with the U-23 team because they are under my leadership. This team is the reserve for the senior team. Therefore, my ambition is that the U-23 team will reach the final.»
The 55-year-old also put the rumors to rest and said he will remain with the Jordan national team until his vision for the side became a reality. «After qualifying for the World Cup, Prince Ali, the President of the Federation, asked me to stay in Jordan to help the team. I told him that I did not come to Jordan to just achieve something and leave. I came to build the team, with a project in mind. If I feel that the project is successful, I will leave.»
Published on December 19, 2025
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(750x201:752x203)/andrea-taylor-swift-travis-kelce-121925-e3fa45bfa90e4fc189b07812d49a5d88.jpg?w=238&resize=238,178&ssl=1 "Andrea, la mamá de Taylor Swift, estaba en el equipo Travis Kelce debido a esa bandera verde")
