Jordan plays Palestine as World Cup qualifiers resume

AMMAN — Jordan hosts Palestine Thursday evening as Round 3/Group B qualifiersfor the 2026 World Cup, resume with four matches left.

Jordan cannot afford to lose, having dropped to third in the group after its last draw with Iraq and Kuwait. They will play South Korea on March 25 before facing Oman and Iraq in the concluding qualifiers in June.

“It is a very important match and it will determine our form ahead of the Korea match,” Sellami told the press conference on Wednesday. “For me, Thursday’s match is more important as it will determine our qualifying chance. I urge our fans to support the team throughout the match.”

Player Nizar Rashdan added the squad “was well focused and prepared” for the 9:15 pm match at Amman International Stadium.

Jordan’s matches in the upcoming round are decisive. After reaching the Asian Cup final last year, expectations are high they can make it to the World Cup finals for the first timeafter FIFA expanded the format to include 16 more teams in the upcoming 2026 World Cup edition.

So far, Jordan heldIraq 0-0 and Kuwait 1-1 in the last qualifiers in November, as Palestine drew 1-1 with South Korea and Iraq beat Oman 1-0. Earlier, Jordan held Kuwait 1-1, beat Palestine 3-1, lost 2-0 to South Korea and beat Oman 4-0.

Throughout the earlier rounds, Moroccan coach Jamal Sellamihas had to contend with constant injuries to top strikers like Mousa Ta’mari and Yazan Nue’imat, and now Ali Alwan will miss the upcoming two qualifiers.As he announced the lineup last  weekend, Sellami even enlisted the efforts of Jordan’s top Taekwondo coach Faris Assaf to help with the physical and mental competitive form of the team.

As the coach strives to build a better base for the lineup, Sellami was eyeing players abroad like Yousef Saleh who plays for England’s Cardiff City and Ahmad Bani Mustafa who plays in Romanian’s league’s Otelul Galati. However, bothplayers will not be part of the upcoming two matches as the lineup also included absentees Noor Bani Atiya, Saad Rousan, Rizeq Bani Hani and U23 team star goalie Antwan Awad who joined the squad in latest friendlies which included holding Russia’s Zenith Club 1-1 and losing 1-0, before tying Uzbekistan 0-0.

Ahead of the qualifiers, Jordan  played a friendly holding North Korea 1-1 on a goal by the team’s top scorer Nue’imat. The coach made minor changes,recalling  some younger players including Hussein Irbid’s Adham Qureishi, and Wisam Riyalat, Salt’s Mohammad Amwasi as well as Mohammad Assaf who plays for Germany’s Bremer SV and Mohammad Nasser who plays in Denmark’s for HB Koje.

Sellami’s defensive tactics and choice of replacements were under scrutiny, as he cameunder fire from analysts after the last two qualifiers. Observers critiqued the team’s performance, noting that individual efforts guided the squad.

18 Asian nations are playing in three groups in home and away format with the top two from each group advancing directly to the World Cup while the rest will play Round 4 in two groups with group leaders advancing and a possible ninth team advancing through intercontinental playoffs.