Jordan is set to make World Cup history in 2026: the country has qualified for the first time. Manager Jamal Sellami, a Moroccan coach, guided the team through the AFC qualifiers. Group J, featuring defending champions Argentina and Austria, presents a huge challenge – but Jordan is raring to go.

Jordan is taking part in the World Cup for the very first time. What the Nashama have achieved in recent years is remarkable: in 2023, they reached the final of the AFC Asian Cup, where they lost to Qatar, but qualified for this tournament by finishing second in their third-round group behind South Korea. Awaiting them in Group G are Portugal, Colombia and the DR Congo. Manager Ayman Hakeem has named three goalkeepers, all of whom have spent their entire careers in the Jordanian Pro League and the Arab region: Yazeed Abulaila, Abdallah Al-Fakhouri and Nour Bani Attiah.

Abulaila is 33 years old, was born in Zarqa and has been the first-choice goalkeeper for the Jordanian national team since 2017. His entire career has been spent in the Arab region: Shabab Al-Ordon, seven years at Al-Faisaly with two league titles and one cup, two loan spells in Saudi Arabia with Al-Jabalain, and since July 2024 at Al-Hussein, with whom he immediately won the 2024/25 league title. With over 60 international caps, he is by far the most experienced goalkeeper in the squad and ranks second among the most-capped goalkeepers in Jordan’s history.

What has defined Abulaila in recent years is the team’s journey. He was in goal when Jordan sensationally reached the AFC Asian Cup final in 2023 and was part of the qualifying campaign that took his country to the World Cup for the first time in history. In the World Cup qualifiers, he stood between the posts in all the decisive matches and kept six clean sheets. His game is based on experience, anticipation and composure under pressure, not on showmanship. That is exactly what a team needs when appearing on this stage for the first time.

Al-Fakhouri is 26 years old, was born in Russeifa and came through the ranks at Al-Wehdat, the most prestigious club in Jordanian football. He came through the youth ranks there, made his debut for the first team at the age of 18 and, apart from a brief loan spell at Al-Ain in Saudi Arabia, has spent his entire career at Al-Wehdat, with whom he has won five titles. He once had trials at Belgian clubs and has been regarded for years as the country’s most promising young goalkeeper. With just a single senior international cap to his name, he has little international experience, but his club performances make him the logical second choice behind Abulaila. At the World Cup, he is the keeper who represents the future of Jordan’s goalkeeping position.

Bani Attiah is 33 years old and has spent his entire career in Jordan. Having come through the ranks at Al-Faisaly, he also played for Al-Jazeera before returning to Al-Faisaly in 2021, where he has been the first-choice goalkeeper ever since. His international journey has been a long and patient one: youth caps for Jordan from 2011, followed by years away from the national team before returning to the senior squad in 2024. As the third-choice goalkeeper, he brings the club experience and calm presence in the background that a historic tournament debut like this requires.