Jordan is set to make its first-ever World Cup appearance with a debut match against Austria in Group J today [1, 2]. The Jordanian team scored 32 goals during World Cup qualifying, showcasing strong offensive capabilities [1, 2]. Their Group J schedule also includes matches against Algeria and defending champions Argentina [1, 2].
Captain Ehsan Haddad emphasized the pride felt by the squad rather than pressure ahead of their historic debut. He said, "We are participating for the first time in our history. It is a great source of pride for us. This is pride more than pressure. It was the dream to be here" [1]. Haddad made these remarks in June, underscoring the team’s confidence leading up to the tournament [1, 2].
Most of Jordan's players compete for clubs within Jordan or the Middle East. The sole exception is Mousa Al Tamari, who plays in Europe for Stade Rennais [1, 2].
Coach Jamal Sellami has prepared a tactical plan for facing Austria, whose previous World Cup appearance was 28 years ago [1, 2]. Sellami noted the positive performances from other Asian qualifiers such as Japan, South Korea, Australia, and Qatar and said, "The results they achieved are really encouraging. It's all positive, positive motivators for the players or for them to perform" [1].
Jordan aims to become the first debutant team since Slovakia in 2010 to reach the knockout stage, a challenging but achievable goal for the squad [1, 2]. The team's World Cup campaign begins today when they take on Austria on the tournament’s opening day.