Photos with Messi as World Cup debutants Jordan aim to prove they belong
AMMAN: Jordan play at their first World Cup determined to show they belong at football’s top table and with Lionel Messi’s Argentina presenting the most daunting of prospects. Jamal Sellami’s side face Austria in a tough Group J on their World Cup debut on June 16, followed by Algeria and then reigning champions Argentina in their final pool game in Dallas. The tournament expanding to 48 teams from 32 helped propel Jordan, a country of 12 million people with a creaking football infrastructure, to their maiden finals. “We have the right to dream,” the former Moroccan international Sellami told AFP. “We are not thinking like a team satisfied with mere participation.” Jordan had eight wins, five draws and three defeats from their 16 Asian qualifying matches, coming second behind South Korea in their group to make a slice of history. Huge celebrations erupted in Amman, fans driving through the capital honking their horns and chanting while others waved the national flag in triumph. It was a second major milestone for the national side in 16 months, having reaching their first Asian Cup final. They were beaten 3-1 by hosts Qatar in the continental decider in February 2024 but were hugely impressive in getting there against all expectations under their much-admired previous coach Hussein Ammouta. The exciting attacking duo of Yazan Al-Naimat and Mousa Al-Tamari were pivotal in that run, terrorizing the South Korean defense in a 2-0 win over Son Heung-min’s side in the semifinals. But Naimat will miss the World Cup in North America with a serious knee injury, one of several injury blows to the Jordan squad. Jordan’s Asian Cup heroics and World Cup qualification came against the backdrop of deep-rooted problems in domestic
