Jordan's World Cup debut pits the 'Jordanian Messi' against the real thing in Group J

Jordan will make their World Cup debut at the 2026 tournament in the United States, drawn in Group J alongside holders Argentina, Algeria and Austria — a group that will pit Rennes winger Musa Al-Tamari, known as the ‘Jordanian Messi’, directly against Lionel Messi himself.

The Chivalrous Knights qualified automatically from AFC Group B, finishing second behind South Korea and ahead of Iraq, Oman, Palestine and Kuwait. Their path to a first-ever World Cup was built on a remarkable run to the final of the 2024 Asian Cup, a result that, according to Arabian football journalist Bassil Mikdadi, fundamentally shifted expectations within the squad.

“There was a sea change — there was a new belief in the players. There’s no going back to how things were, that’s the new standard,” Mikdadi said.

Despite their rank outsider status in Group J, Mikdadi argues the draw may actually suit Jordan well. “I think it’s perhaps the best possible group that Jordan could have hoped for. If you are going to be eliminated in the group stage at your first World Cup, you want to feel like you’re at the World Cup. There’s no better feeling than playing the holders who are led by Lionel Messi.”

Opponents would be unwise to dismiss them. At the 2024 Asian Cup, South Korea and Iraq both underestimated Jordan and paid the price. Mikdadi describes a side that is tactically disciplined and comfortable without the ball. “They will not sit in a low block, but will sit in a medium block, and they are very content to let you have the ball and are very good at suffering. When Jordan win games they usually have less possession.”

The team will be led by Moroccan coach Jamal Sellami, 55, who was granted Jordanian citizenship by King Abdullah II in 2025 in recognition of his contribution to the national programme. Sellami previously won the Moroccan top flight before taking the Jordan job, and guided the side to the final of the 2025 Arab Cup, where they lost to his native Morocco.

Jordan are one of four debutants at the expanded 2026 tournament, alongside Cape Verde, Uzbekistan and Curaçao. The occasion is, however, tinged with difficulty for supporters back home. Jordanian fans are struggling to obtain visas to travel to the United States, a situation complicated by the closure of the US embassy in Amman. High ticket prices add a further barrier, meaning the stands are unlikely to be filled with Chivalrous Knights supporters when Jordan’s historic first match kicks off.

Al-Tamari, who has scored 24 goals in 90 international appearances, is expected to be Jordan’s talisman — and the player most likely to announce the nation’s arrival on the world stage.