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AMMAN — Jordan plays Kuwait in an away match Tuesday evening in Round 3/Group B qualifying matches for the 2026 World Cup.

Last Thursday, Jordan tied Iraq 0-0 in Basra and now hopes to beat Kuwait, now fifth in the group with a winless record, to boost the team’s chances of securing early qualification from the group.

Jordan’s Moroccan coach Jamal Sellami told the pre match press conference his team “expected a tough match”, underlining the encounter set for 9:15pm was vital and that the national squad needed to come back home with a win. 

Sellami said drawing against Kuwait 1-1 in the first encounter had made their task tougher, therefore “Jordan afford losing any points at this stage”.

Jordan has a chance to make history and reach the World Cup for the first time, after FIFA expanded the format to include 16 more teams in the upcoming 2026 World Cup edition.

Currently, 18 Asian nations are playing in three groups in home and away format with the top two from each group advancing directly to the World Cup while the rest will play Round 4 in two groups with group leaders advancing and a possible ninth team advancing through intercontinental play-offs.

The Kingdom’s team seems to be having a rough ride after a change to coaching staff in summer.

Now coach Sellami has to contend with having a coherent lineup and keep up a steady overall performance so as not to leave qualification undetermined. 

The national team, dubbed “Al Nashama” has had to overcome a string of injuries, with Montpellier striker Mousa Ta’mari making a return but still not in top form to an ankle injury.

Similarly, Yazan Nu’eimat had recent rib and wrist injuries. 

Now the Kuwait match will miss Ali Alwan also with an ankle injury while Noor Rawabdeh is out after surgery for an injury sustained during his club’s Malaysian league match in addition to Aref Haj.

Jordan is now second in the group after they held Kuwait 1-1, beat Palestine 3-1, lost 2-0 to South Korea before beating Oman 4-0.

In other matches, Oman beat Palestine 1-0, South Korea beat Kuwait 3-1, Palestine held South Korea 0-0 and Kuwait 2-2, Iraq beat Oman and Palestine 1-0, South Korea beat Oman 3-1 and Iraq 3-2, while Oman upset Kuwait 4-0.

It is the 7th time for Jordan in World Cup qualifiers since 1986 with Jordan reaching Round 3 twice.

In 2014, they advanced to play then FIFA 6th ranked Uruguay in an intercontinental qualifying tie before exiting. 

Earlier this year, Jordan reached the Asian Cup final, in their fifth time at the Asian Cup since 1972. 

Their previous best past performance was reaching the quarterfinals twice in 2004 and in 2011.

Jordan exited the group stages in 2015 and in 2019 they made it to the Round of 16.

PARIS — Netherlands outclassed Hungary with a 4-0 victory in its winner-takes-all Nations League encounter on Saturday while Germany hammered Bosnia and Hercegovina 7-0.

Netherlands and Hungary went into the match tied on five points each and with the winner set to join Germany in ensuring their progress from Group A3 to the quarter-finals.

First-half penalties by Wout Weghorst and Cody Gakpo sent the Oranje on their way, before Denzel Dumfries and Teun Koopmeiners made the game safe in the second period.

The match at the Johan Cruyff Arena was briefly interrupted in the seventh minute following a medical emergency on the Hungarian bench.

The referee stopped play for some 10 minutes while Hungary's assistant coach Adam Szalai received treatment, shielded from view by huddled players and staff members, as well as a large white sheet.

Szalai, 36, was stretchered off to applause from spectators and players alike, the Hungarian FA later released a statement saying he was "conscious" and in a "stable condition" at an Amsterdam hospital.

Almost forgotten in the aftermath of the worrying incident was the handball by Tamas Nikitscher as the ball was crossed into the Hungarian box.

The referee consulted the touchline video monitor and promptly restarted play by pointing to the spot, allowing Weghorst to sweep the Netherlands in front.

Denes Dibusz was the busier of the two goalkeepers as the first period wore on and had to be alert to keep out efforts from Tijjani Reijnders and Donyell Malen.

In the 11th minute of added time, Dutch dominance told and Malen was clipped by Zsolt Nagy in the box.

Gakpo dispatched the resulting spot-kick, sending Dibusz the wrong way and Netherlands into a two-goal lead.

Right-back Dumfries sealed the Netherlands' spot in the quarters as he latched onto Malen's flick-on at the back post and fizzed a volley back into the far corner shortly after the hour.

Koopmeiners marked his first international match since 2022 by nodding in a fourth in the 86th minute.

'Good fun' 

Germany cemented its spot at the top of the group with a 7-0 win over Bosnia -- the heaviest in the six-year history of the Nations League.

"It was good fun tonight. After a couple of goals we did the work defensively and then everything came together offensively. The more that happens, the more fun we have on the pitch," German attacker Jamal Musiala told UEFA's website.

Musiala opened the floodgates after two minutes with a header from Joshua Kimmich's cross.

Tim Kleindienst scored his first goal for Germany in the 23rd minute and Kai Havertz made the game safe eight minutes before the break, slotting home after a slick one-two with Florian Wirtz.

Wirtz then made it four on 50 minutes with a sublime swerving free-kick from wide on the left, before doubling up seven minutes later.

"Seeing Flo [Wirtz's] free-kick was kind of nice but just in general everyone played well, had good moments. We're just playing good football," added Musiala.

Substitute Leroy Sane scored Germany's sixth in the 66th minute and Kleindienst completed the rout just over 10 minutes from time as he guided home a pinpoint cross from centre-half Antonio Rudiger.

The emphatic result leaves Germany five points ahead of Netherlands with only one match left to play.

In Group B1, Georgia played out a 1-1 draw at home to Ukraine and stay two points ahead of the fourth-placed visitors.

The Czech Republic drew 0-0 in Albania and remain top of the group on eight points, one ahead of Georgia in second and their third-placed opponents.

Turkey stayed top of Group B4 with a 0-0 draw at home to Wales, while Iceland beat Montenegro 2-0.

Turkey was presented with a golden opportunity to grow their two-point lead over Wales but Kerem Akturkoglu sent his 89th-minute penalty wide.

AMMAN — In a tense Group B Round 5 match at Al Basra International Stadium, Jordan held Iraq to a 0-0 draw on Thursday, preserving its hopes to qualify for the World Cup in 2026.

The game’s closest chance came when Yazan Nueimat broke through the Iraqi defence, trying to chip a ball over Ahmed Basil who saved the shot.

The game started when both teams tested each other in the midfield but could not connect a few precise passes. The first half ended with no chances as many fouls interrupted the flow of the game. Iraqi team relied on set pieces but with no concrete prospect to score.

The best opportunity for the host happened in the injury time when the ball was blasted over the crossbar from the right flank, some seven metres from the net.

Meanwhile, Oman defeated Palestine 1-0 while South Korea beat Kuwait 3-1. The leader of the group is South Korea with 13 points, Jordan is second with eight points, Iraq also has eight points, but worse goal difference., Oman is on fourth place with six points, Kuwait clinched three while Palestine is the last with only two points.

In the next round, Jordan will play Kuwait on Tuesday at Jaber Al Ahmad International Stadium. It might be one of the match balls to secure the second spot in the group.

AMMAN — HRH Prince Feisal, chairman of Jordan Motorsport, on Thursday flagged off the Jordan Baja Rally, the seventh and penultimate round of the FIA Cross-Country Bajas World Cup, from the Great Arab Revolt Plaza in Aqaba. 

The rally also serves as the seventh and penultimate round of the World Cup for motorcycles and quad bikes in the FIM Bajas World Cup, as well as the third round of the Middle East Cup for Cross-Country Bajas, the National Jordan Baja, and the inaugural Wadi Al Qamar Rally, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

Prince Feisal reviewed the preparations for the rally, expressing his satisfaction with the number of participants and stressing the importance of this global sporting event in boosting Jordan’s position on the international sports map.

The three-kilometre prologue stage took place at Aqaba's southern beach, determining the starting order for Friday’s competition, where results from this stage will contribute to the overall rankings in both the FIA and FIM Bajas World Cup standings.

The rally covers a total distance of 566.46 kilometres, divided over two stages on a route totalling 775.31 kilometres.

In the seventh and penultimate round of the FIA Cross-Country Bajas World Cup, there are 19 competitors, along with 13 participants in the FIM Bajas World Cup for motorcycles and quads. 

The National Jordan Baja includes 11 competitors, and 27 participants are competing in the Wadi Al Qamar Rally.

In the three-kilometre prologue stage, Argentinean Diego Martinez recorded the fastest time in the Jordan Baja, while Jordanian rider Abdullah Abu Aisha achieved the best time in the motorcycle category. Saudi Abdulaziz Shaibani posted the quickest time in the quad category, and Palestinian competitor Taha Masoud recorded the fastest time in the National Jordan Baja.

AMMAN —  Jordan plays Iraq Thursday evening in Round 3/Group B qualifying matches for the 2026 World Cup.

The national team left Amman on Wednesday to face Iraq at 7:15 pm in Basra as  pros playing abroad converged on Amman to play Iraq followed by Kuwait on November 19. 

Jordan beat Iraq earlier this year on their way to the Asian Cup final. Overcoming the Iraqi team now in an away match will boost the team’s chances ahead of playing Kuwait next week. Jordan has had to tackle injuries, change to coaching staff with inconsistent overall performance leaving qualification still undetermined, although very doable.

“The Iraq match will be decisive in determining qualification from the group, but it’s not the only determining point. We expect a tough match with Iraq playing at home but hope to finish with a positive result,” Jordan’s coach Jamal Sellami told the press ahead of Wednesday’s early morning flight that also included fans heading to Basra.

Sellami hopes Montepellier striker Mousa Ta’mari will make a solid return after missing the last two matches due to an ankle injury. Similarly, officials and fans hope Yazan Nu’eimat will be in top form after recent rib and wrist injuries. 

Jordan started off qualifiers holding  Kuwait 1-1, beating Palestine 3-1, losing 2-0 to South Korea before beating Oman 4-0 to take second spot behind South Korea on goal difference for now. 

In other matches so far, Palestine held South Korea 0-0 and Kuwait 2-2, Iraq beat Oman and Palestine 1-0, South Korea beat Oman 3-1 and Iraq 3-2, while Oman upset Kuwait

4-0.

MÁLAGA, Spain — Poland heads into their first-round clash with hosts Spain at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals buoyed by the presence of Iga Swiatek and dreaming of a first-ever title in the team event.

The Poles have finished bottom of their group in each of the past two years without five-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek, but she will be making her debut in the revamped knockout tournament.

Swiatek has struggled for her best form since winning her fourth French Open title earlier this year, failing to reach a final.

Her WTA Finals title defence ended in the group stage last week despite winning two of her three round-robin matches and she arrives in Malaga relatively fresh after missing several competitions in recent months.

"I'm happy that I can be part of the team again, because I always wanted that every year, but with the scheduling, it was pretty tricky and kind of impossible to make it work," world number two Swiatek told a press conference.

"I'm just happy to be here, and hopefully I can play some solid matches here and stay as long as possible together with the team."

Poland, who also have Magdalena Frech and Magda Linette in their squad, have comfortably the highest average ranking for their top three players of any team in the tournament.

The only other top-10 player scheduled to feature is Italy's world number four Jasmine Paolini.

Poland faces a tricky opening tie, though, against Spain, with Swiatek set to face former World No.2 Paula Badosa.

Spain beat an understrength Poland in a dead rubber in last year's group stage, after both teams lost to eventual champions Canada.

"I believe we're going to get revenge, because last year was a tough one, but this year it's going to be a different match, different teams," said Polish captain Dawid Celt. "That's what I said, I believe we're gonna win the last point."

The winners of Wednesday's tie will face 11-time champions the Czech Republic in the quarter-finals.

Canada eyeing unlikely double

Reigning champions Canada have a first-round bye and will face either Germany or Britain in the last eight.

However, World No.31 Leylah Fernandez is their only player ranked in the top 100.

Record 18-time champions the United States is without the top three players, Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro, with Danielle Collins set to lead the side in their first-round tie against Slovakia on Thursday.

The winners will face Australia.

Japan will make their debut in the Finals after winning six straight ties last year and then defeating Kazakhstan in a play-off in April.

Naomi Osaka played in that clash in Tokyo but is absent in Spain, with Moyuka Uchijima their highest-ranked singles player, although they do boast three top-50 doubles players.

"Two years ago we start from the Asia Oceania regional event and we won five matches there, and also playoff," said captain Ai Sugiyama of her team's long journey.

"Naomi got injured, she really wanted to be here, but unfortunately she couldn't be ready for this BJK Finals.

"But we have a great team spirit."

Japan takes on Romania on Thursday for the right to face Italy in the quarters.

AMMAN — Jordan’s basketball squad returns home after a training camp in Egypt in preparation for window 2 of Group D qualifiers for the 31st FIBA Asia Cup 2025.

The squad regrouped recently with naturalised player Dar Tucker joining the lineup replacing Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. Jordan will next host a four-nation tournament - 12th King’s Cup - which starts on November 16 grouping Syria, Qatar, Palestine and Jordan.

As qualifiers resume, the Kingdom will play Iraq and Palestine on November 22 and 25, hoping to build on earlier wins to take them tothe top of the group. Jordan beat Palestine 73-46 and Saudi Arabia 79-64. In other results, Iraq beat Palestine 75-72 as  Saudi Arabia beat Iraq 64-58.

In window 1, Jordan beat Saudi Arabia with difficulty. Freddie Ibrahim carried the team scoring 24 points including 3 consecutive three pointers in addition to free throws to overturn the Saudi lead. Naturalised pro Hollis-Jefferson had 19 points and Ahmad Duweiri 17.

Most observers concur it was  the individual efforts of key players rather than cohesive  teamwork that allowed them to score expected wins in both matches. That point as well as minimal bench support is Jordan’s biggest weakness. In  window 3 in February, Jordan will face Saudi on February 21, before playing Iraq on February 24, 2025.

A total of 24 teams are playing Round 1 qualification matches for the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup in three windows. As they also battle for qualifying spots for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup alongside hosts Qatar which automatically qualified. The top two teams of each qualifying group move to the FIBA Asia Cup and the six third-placed teams will play another qualifying round for the final four places. The 31st FIBA Asia Cup will be hosted in Saudi  from August 5-17, 2025.

AMMAN — Jordan’s national team regrouped on the weekend as they start the countdown to the upcoming two Round 3/Group B qualifying matches for the 2026 World Cup.

The team started training in Amman ahead of the weekend and will leave to Basra a day ahead on a specially assigned Royal Jordanian flight with most pros playing abroad converging on Amman this week ahead of the next two away qualifiers against Iraq on November 14 and Kuwait on November 19.

Upcoming results will be decisive in securing early qualification from the group after Jordan lost 2-0 to South Korea, beat Oman 4-0, Palestine 3-1 and held Kuwait 1-1 to take second spot behind South Korea on goal difference for now. 

Jordan’s coach Jamal Sellami made minor changes to the lineup hoping star striker Mousa Ta’mari will make a solid return after missing the last two matches due to an ankle injury.

Similarly, officials and fans hope Yazan Nu’eimat will be in top form after recent rib and wrist injuries. The lineup will miss Noor Rawabdeh  who is out with an injury he sustained during his club’s Malaysian league match as well as Aref Haj who has an ankle injury similar to Ta’mari which he sustained during his Hussein’s match against Uzbekistan’s Nasaf Qarshi during this week’s Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Champions League Two match.

Currently, 18 Asian nations are playing in three groups in home and away format until June 10, 2025 with the top two from each group advancing directly to the World Cup while the rest will play Round 4 in two groups with group leaders advancing and a possible ninth team advancing through intercontinental play-offs