Coach Jamal Sellami draws inspiration from 2022 semifinal run as debutants prepare to face Argentina, Algeria, and Austria in North America
ANTALYA, Turkiye — Jordan head coach Jamal Sellami has urged his players to draw inspiration from Morocco’s historic run to the World Cup semifinals four years ago, as the team prepares for its first-ever appearance at football’s global showpiece.
Jordan will face Austria, Algeria, and powerhouse Argentina in Group J at the June 11 to July 19 World Cup in North America. The squad is holding its final training camp in Antalya this week, where media access has been tightly restricted as the team fine-tunes tactics ahead of the tournament.
Belief Born from Morocco’s Success
Sellami, a Moroccan himself, pointed to his home country’s stunning achievement at the 2022 World Cup—where they became the first African and Arab nation to reach the semifinals—as proof that underdogs can defy expectations.
“In big competitions, many teams can surprise. My country Morocco reached the semifinals in the last World Cup,” Sellami said. “That gives us belief.”
Jordan secured an automatic berth for the 48-team tournament after finishing second behind South Korea in their Asian qualifying group—a feat that has sparked nationwide excitement.
‘Not Just for Participation’
Despite being debutants and widely considered underdogs, players insist they are not traveling to North America merely to make up the numbers.
“For us, we are not going just for participation,” said midfielder Noor Al-Rawabdeh. “We are aiming to go as far as we can in the tournament.”
The weight of the occasion has not been lost on the squad.
“To be honest, sometimes we don’t sleep when we think about it,” Al-Rawabdeh admitted. “It’s a dream come true for us.”
Preparation Amid Regional Challenges
Jordan played Costa Rica on Friday and is set to face Nigeria on Tuesday as part of a four-team regional tournament that also includes Iran. The matches were relocated from Jordan to Turkiye due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
“Of course we feel sad about what is happening. I hope there will be peace,” Al-Rawabdeh said. “But this is football—we moved here and we need to adapt. In the World Cup you face the unknown, so we must be ready for everything.”
Defender Mohammad Abu Alnadi echoed the squad’s determination to make a mark on the global stage.
“It’s truly amazing. All of us are excited. It’s one of the highest levels any player can play,” he said. “We want to go as far as possible—like any other team—and make history again.”
Step-by-Step Preparation
Sellami said the Antalya camp represents a crucial phase in building experience ahead of facing elite opposition in the group stage.
“We are preparing step by step. We’ve played against different football cultures,” he said. “We are collecting experience and, Inshallah, we will surprise many people.”
Jordan’s Group J campaign will kick off against Austria, followed by clashes with Algeria and 2022 world champions Argentina, promising a stern test for the tournament debutants.
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