Group J fixtures
Wed 17 Jun05:00 BST
Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara
Tue 23 Jun04:00 BST
Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara
Sun 28 Jun03:00 BST
AT&T Stadium, Dallas
Key players to watch
Mousa Al-Tamari
W · OGC Nice · C
Captain, star and most-capped active outfielder; a direct, Europe-based winger who is the focal point of everything Jordan do.
Captain · star winger
Ali Olwan
FW · Al-Sailiya
The main striker and a prolific qualifier — nine goals, including a hat-trick in the decisive final match.
Lead striker
Mahmoud Al-Mardi
FW · Al-Hussein
Experienced forward who provides a physical presence and a second goal threat up front.
Forward option
Nizar Al-Rashdan
MF · Qatar SC
Composed central midfielder who sets the tempo and links defence to attack.
Midfield link
Abdallah Nasib
CB
Experienced centre-back, part of a defensive core with over a century of caps between the leaders.
Defensive leader
Yazan Al-Arab
CB · FC Seoul
Reliable, well-travelled defender who helps marshal an under-pressure backline.
Defensive partner
Goals & output
Al-Tamari is the creative and goal threat, with Olwan finishing. A significant blow is the loss of chief creator Yazan Al-Naimat to an ACL injury, which thins out the supply line.
Set-piece duties
Free kicks
Mousa Al-Tamari
Al-Tamari is the obvious dead-ball threat on penalties and free kicks, with Al-Rashdan among the corner takers. With limited open-play firepower, set pieces are an important source of goals — though the picture is less settled than for established sides.
Discipline read
▲Disciplined and structured under Sellami; fouls come from protecting a compact shape rather than recklessness.
Recent form
History-makers on their tournament debut — qualified at the tenth attempt. They reached the 2023 Asian Cup final (losing to Qatar) and then came through AFC qualifying to reach the finals directly. Moroccan coach Jamal Sellami has built a disciplined, transition-based side, though injuries (notably Al-Naimat) have hit their preparations.
Head-to-head history
v Austria (17 Jun)
No prior meetings
A first-ever meeting and a daunting tournament bow in Santa Clara.
v Algeria (23 Jun)
No prior meetings
First meeting; arguably Jordan's most realistic shot at a result, in Santa Clara.
v Argentina (28 Jun)
No prior meetings
A first meeting against the world champions and Messi in Dallas on the final day.
Underdog & betting read
The verdict
Debutant outsiders in a tough group, but organised and carrying a genuine match-winner in Al-Tamari. The realistic aim is to compete, frustrate and make history; losing Al-Naimat hurts the goal threat. Markets favour unders and opponent handicaps.