The Jordan national football team sets its sights on achieving more than just a quarter-finals position in the upcoming Asian Cup 2023. In what will be their fifth appearance in the continent's prime football tournament, hosted by Qatar from January 12 to February 10, 2024, "The Chivalrous" are eager to make a significant impact.
Jordan finds itself in Group 5, alongside the teams of Bahrain, South Korea, and Malaysia.
As of the November FIFA rankings, Jordan was placed at 87th position, with its highest-ever ranking being 37th in August and September of 2004.
The Jordan Football Association was established in 1949, became a FIFA member in 1958, and later joined the Arab Football Federation in 1974 and the Asian Football Confederation in 1975.
The national team played its first international match in 1953 against Syria in Egypt and suffered a 3-1 defeat. The team claimed the Arab Games title in the 1997 and 1999 editions.
Although Jordan has not yet qualified for the FIFA World Cup, they reached the intercontinental play-off for the 2014 World Cup after surpassing Uzbekistan in the Asian play-off. Unfortunately, they fell short of reaching the World Cup after facing defeat against Uruguay with a 5-0 loss in Amman and a goalless draw in Montevideo.
Asian Cup Highlights
Jordan has qualified for the finals four times, with outstanding participations in 2004 and 2011.
2004 Edition in China: This tournament remains etched in the memories of Jordanians, marking the first participation of their national team and one of the best. Jordan reached the quarter-finals but was eventually ousted by Japan in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw in normal and extra time.
2011 Edition in Qatar: Jordan exited the tournament in the quarter-finals after a 2-1 defeat against Uzbekistan.
2015 Edition in Australia: The team departed the competition in the group stage.
2019 Edition in UAE: Jordan was eliminated in the round of 16, losing to Vietnam in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw in normal and extra time.
Prominent Former Players:
- Badran Al-Shaqran
- Faisal Ibrahim
- Jamal Abu Abed
Current Stars:
- Musa Al-Taamari (Montpellier, France)
- Ehsan Haddad (Al-Faisaly)
- Ahmad Al-Ersan (Al-Faisaly)
Coaching the Team
In June 2023, the Jordanian Football Association appointed the accomplished Moroccan coach Hussein Ammouta as the new technical director of the national team, to lead "The Chivalrous" in their upcoming challenges. Ammouta boasts a distinguished coaching career, having earned victories such as the CAF Champions League with Wydad Casablanca, CAF Confederation Cup with FUS Rabat, and numerous local titles with Qatar SC, as well as the Moroccan league with the Royal Army.
Jordan's Group 5 Matches in the Asian Cup 2023
- January 15: Malaysia vs Jordan (Al-Janoub Stadium)
- January 20: Jordan vs South Korea (Al-Thumama Stadium)
- January 25: Jordan vs Bahrain (Khalifa International Stadium)
