What: 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier
When: Thursday, September 10th
Where: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | KLFA Stadium
Kickoff: 1700 Jerusalem Time
TV/Streaming: Subscribe to Football Palestine on Substack to receive a streaming link to your inbox one hour before kickoff.
Previous Encounters
14.10.1976| Palestine 2:1 Jordan| 1976 Pan Arab Games*
06.06.1997| Palestine 0:0 Jordan| Friendly*
26.07|1998| Palestine 1:1 Jordan| 1998 Arab Cup
18.08.1998| Jordan 2:0 Palestine| 1999 Pan Arab Games
29.08.1999| Jordan 4:1 Palestine| 1999 Pan Arab Games
04.04.2000| Jordan 5:1 Palestine| 2000 Asian Cup Qualifying
16.12.2002| Palestine 1:1 Jordan| 2002 Arab Cup
17.06.2004| Palestine 1:1 Jordan| 2004 WAFF Championship
26.10.2008| Palestine 1:1 Jordan| Friendly
11.12.2011| Palestine 1:4 Jordan| 2011 Pan Arab Games*
06.08.2013| Jordan 4:1 Palestine| Friendly*
16.01.2015| Palestine 1:5 Jordan| 2015 Asian Cup
15.01.2019| Palestine 0:0 Jordan| 2019 Asian Cup
07.12.2021| Palestine 1:5 Jordan| 2021 Arab Cup
Jordan slip up at home
The narrative coming into this qualifying cycle was that Jordan was destined to make a breakthrough. Not only were pundits the continent over saying the team could qualify for Round 4 many were even tipping them to qualify directly. The team itself seemed to embrace the weight of expectations. When the draw for Round Three was made back in June the team recorded itself cheering upon being drawn in Group B.
The team’s momentum was broken when Hussein Ammouta unexpectedly resigned to take the Al-Jazira job in UAE. Another Moroccan, Jamal Sellami, was entrusted with the job and was given an extended camp in Turkey earlier this summer to acquaint himself with the players. The Jordanian Football Association also arranged two friendlies against DPR Korea before the start of the international window.
Al-Nashama managed a 0-0 draw in the first match against the Koreans before an Ali Olwan double powered them to a 2-1 victory. The feeling was that Jordan would be able to pick up where they left off. To ease themselves into qualifying Jordan had their easiest game on paper- Kuwait at home- on Matchday 1.
Things were going to plan when Musa Al-Tamari scored 14 minutes into the encounter. Jordan had a spring in their step and chances fell to them soon after the opener with both Yazan Al-Naimat and Mahmoud Al-Mardi attempting audacious bicycle kicks.
Jordan seemed to be in control but the injury of talisman Al-Tamari in the 63rd minute saw the proceedings shift in Kuwait’s favour. Goalkeeper Yazid Abu Layla ricocheted a clearance off the face of a Kuwait attacker. The ensuing deflection went goalwards but sailed over the bar.
While most pundits were keen to highlight the strengths of Jordan, very few picked up on their weaknesses. Namely, the fact that they conceded four penalty kicks during the Asian Cup- including three in the final.
Yazan Al-Arab’s needless foul in the box would give Kuwait the chance to grab a point at the death with Yousef Nasser duly slotting home from the spot.
Al-Tamari ruled out
Shortly after the game Mousa Al-Tamari took to social media to confirm the worst fears of Jordanian fans. Damage to his achilles tendon will cost him 4-6 weeks. Meaning he will be in a race against time to be fit for the qualifiers in October. The Montpelier man is definitely out for the match against Palestine.
To make matters worse for Jordan his natural replacement Mohammed Abu Zurayq (known as Sharrara) had to pull out with an injury before the start of the window.
A clearly unfit Yazan Al-Naimat has only deepened the sense of crisis in a Jordan side that has relied on the same core for the past three years.
Rivalry Renewed
There is no getting around it. Palestine have not beaten Jordan since the first encounter between the two sides- a 2-1 win at the 1976 Pan Arab Games. The last time the two sides met fireworks went off- and not in a good way.
The now defunct 974 Stadium was the venue and an undermanned Palestine faced a mostly full strength Jordan (only Mousa Al-Tamari was missing from the squad). Jordan raced out to a 2-0 lead and Palestine were left to attack for the remaining 80 odd minutes. Tamer Seyam pulled one back at the half hour mark but the comeback stalled with Khaled Salem particularly wasteful in front of goal. A dozen good scoring opportunities came Al-Fida’i’s way until they finally put the ball in the back of the net.
Offside. Khaled Salem’s butt was offside as he collected the ball out wide. A wicked deflection minutes later made it 3-1 and relieved the pressure on Jordan who went on to add two more against the frustrated Palestinian side.
Ironically, that match was probably Palestine’s best in the attacking phase of play. Their problem was that they could not call upon the likes of Oday Dabbagh, Saleh Chihadeh, Mahmoud Wadi, Shehab Qunbar, Bader Mousa and a host of other players. The team was left without a right back after Musab Al-Battat caught COVID-19 on the eve of the tournament. Rami Hamadi would injure his back ruling him out as well.
A cursory look at both squads shows how much has and hasn’t changed. Seven players out of the 23 called up for the Arab Cup are still with the side (Mohammed Khalil, Mohammed Rashid, Yaser Hamed, Odai Kharoub, Mahmoud Abuwarda, Tamer Seyam, and Mohammed Darweesh). A handful of others have participated during this cycle (Mahmoud Eid, Mohammed Saleh, Mohammed Yameen, and Amr Kaddoura).
Palestine might only field Seyam and Hamed from the start on Tuesday night.
Whereas Jordan will call upon a host of players that played in the last encounter including goalkeeper Yazid Abu Layla, defenders Mohammed Abu Hasheesh, Abduallah Nasib and Yazan Abu Arab, midfielder Noor Al-Rawabdeh, and Ali Olwan. Mahmoud Al-Mardi and Yazan Naimat who appeared as substitutes in the last encounter will almost definitely start
Rotations
If there is one area where Palestine might have an edge over Jordan it is their depth at every position save for centre back. Makram Daboub will be able to call on the services of Amid Mahajna against Jordan and given how well Yaser Hamed and Michel Termanini played against South Korea it is quite possible Mahajna plays in midfield alongside Ataa Jaber.
The other position that could see a change is left back. Markam Daboub has show a tendency to rotate Camilo Saldaña who last started two games in the same window back in November. If the Santiago born fullback is dropped expect Mohammed Khalil to start in his place.
The big question is whether or not Moustafa Zeidan is fit enough to play a role from the start. The former Sweden international has been limited to 30 minute cameos with Rosenborg as he attempts to regain match fitness. If Zeidan cannot go at least an hour, it is highly likely Mahmoud Abu Warda starts with Zeidan replacing him in the second half.
Kuala Lumpur- A home away from home
Make no mistake, every single national team player would put up with the arduous travel in order to be able to play in front of family and friends at the Faisal Al-Husseini Stadium. In light of Thursday’s results playing in Kuala Lumpur might just be a blessing in disguise.
Palestine had a six and a half hour flight from Seoul to Kuala Lumpur and only shifted timezones once. Jordan’s chartered flight on the other hand took over 14 hours with a stop over in New Dehli to refuel. The Jordanians will also have to adjust to a five hour time change.
Further playing into Palestine’s hands is the fact that Jordan has struggled to adapt outside of West Asia. Al-Nashama’s record in qualifying matches east of Tehran stands at 12W-12D-12L those wins came against Afghanistan (1984ACQ, in China), Pakistan (1988ACQ, in Malaysia), Chinese Taipei (2002WCQ, in Tashkent), Laos (2006WCQ), Pakistan (2007ACQ), Turkmenistan (2010WCQ), Singapore (2015ACQ), Tajikistan (2018WCQ), Bangladesh (2018WCQ), Cambodia (2019ACQ), Chinese Taipei (2022WCQ), Pakistan (2026WCQ).
Palestine on the other hand have been far more adept at traveling to the far reaches of the continent their qualifying record stands at 19W-9D-9L. Palestine’s artificial pitches remain a fortress for a side that has never lost at home during a FIFA Match Day but Al-Fida’i has managed to qualify for three out of four Asian Cup finals without the use of home field advantage (2015, 2023, 2027).
In drawing against Korea Republic- Palestine managed a feat that Jordan has yet to match- collecting a point in the final group stage of World Cup qualification.
In spite of several factors pointing in Palestine’s favor it will be absolutely critical that Palestine remained focused. The fact remains that a win against Jordan would be an historic achievement and a big step towards potentially qualifying for the World Cup finals. For the fans it would soothe the pain having been eliminated by Jordan at the 1999 Pan Arab Games, the 2015 and 2019 Asian Cup, and the 2021 Arab Cup. A win in Kuala Lumpur might be worth more than all those games combined.
