World Cup 2026: From 'outsider' to the biggest stage on the planet

According to a Vietnam News Agency correspondent in the Middle East, in an interview with CNN, Prince Ali noted that Jordan currently possesses a talented generation of players, the result of long-term investment in youth football over the past 20 years. He said many current national team players came through the youth training system Jordan established in the early 2000s.

The Jordan Football Association President mentioned that previously, qualifying for the AFC Asian Cup was a very difficult goal for Jordanian football. However, the national team has now become a familiar presence at this top Asian tournament.

Prince Ali emphasized that the Jordan team aims to compete at the highest level and expressed confidence that the players will give their utmost effort to achieve that. He stated that team unity and youthful energy are the outstanding strengths of the current squad.

Referring to Jordan's first appearance at the World Cup, Prince Ali affirmed that the team will enter the tournament with a mindset of enjoying the game while being determined to give their all. He also said the team still has much potential for development despite difficulties due to some injured players.

Regarding Jordan's star player, Mousa Al-Taamari, Prince Ali said he is one of the standout products of the domestic youth training system. After coming through Jordan's football academies, Al-Taamari developed his career at clubs in Cyprus, Belgium, and later moved to play in France. Prince Ali expressed hope that more Jordanian players will follow in Al-Taamari's successful footsteps in the future.

Prince Ali also mentioned the national team's new jersey, noting that the design is simple yet impressive. According to him, the patterns and colors are inspired by Jordan's traditional keffiyeh scarf, reflecting the familiar image of fans wearing the scarf on their shoulders to cheer the team from the stands.