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AMMAN — Head coach of Jordan national football team (The Nashama) Jamal Sellami Said Tuesday that the team's participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup marks a historic achievement and a source of national pride.
Speaking at a press conference in San Francisco ahead of Jordan's upcoming match against Austria, Sellami acknowledged the strength of the opposition but stressed the importance of making a positive start.
"We will be facing a strong team, but the most important thing is to begin well," Sellami said.
He expressed confidence in his players' ability to cope with the intensity of the match from the opening whistle, noting that the squad possesses the quality and experience required to secure a positive result.
Sellami described Austria as a formidable opponent but emphasized that Jordan is capable of producing a strong performance.
The coach also pointed to the performances of Arab and Asian teams at the 2026 World Cup as a source of motivation for Al-Nashama. He said the encouraging results achieved by those teams, along with their competitive displays against higher-ranked opponents, provide added inspiration for Jordan's players ahead of the Austria clash.
He added that such performances reinforce the team's belief and determination to deliver a high-level display in its upcoming encounter.
Austria head coach Ralf Rangnick has warned against underestimating World Cup debutants Jordan, citing a series of surprise results involving Asian teams at the tournament ahead of Tuesday's Group J opener.
Several European sides have already stumbled against opponents from the Asian Football Confederation, with the Czech Republic suffering a 2-1 defeat to South Korea last week and Turkey's World Cup return ending in a 2-0 loss to Australia.
Japan also impressed by coming from behind twice to secure a 2-2 draw against the Netherlands on Sunday, while Group B favourites Switzerland were held to a 1-1 draw by Qatar, four years after the Gulf nation exited the 2022 World Cup without a point as hosts.
Speaking to reporters on Monday at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, where Austria will face Jordan, Rangnick stressed the importance of avoiding complacency.
"We have seen many surprises during this World Cup," Rangnick told reporters on Monday at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium where they face Jordan in their Group J opener.
"If you looked at the matches and the outcomes, we had 12 draws and only six victories. There was no South American team that won.
"This is not going to be a walkover. It's going to be an uncomfortable opponent. The opponent will try to lure you in, absorb the pressure, and then they will try to use the open space for their counter-attacks.
