Jordan's Coach Salami Discusses World Cup Qualification Challenges
National coach Jamal Salami stated that Jordan's recent 4-0 victory over Oman in the fourth round of the Asian qualifiers is a significant turning point for “the Chivalrous Ones” in their quest for World Cup qualification. This victory places them second in the group, just three points behind the group leader, South Korea, and ahead of Iraq on goal difference.
In an interview with FIFA's official website, Salami praised the last match against Oman as exemplary and emphasized the importance of maintaining this level in future matches.
Regarding the team's performance, Salami attributed their success to adjustments made after their previous loss to South Korea (2-0). He noted physical exhaustion and missing key players in the offense significantly affected the team's performance but acknowledged that players learned from that experience. The effective preparation and analysis of the Omani team also contributed to their disciplined and focused play.
Salami acknowledged that the absence of Mousa Al-Tamari impacted Jordan's lineup, yet the team overcame this challenge with strong collective performance. He expressed optimism about Al-Tamari's return to the pitch soon, as he is recovering well and expected to be ready for the upcoming match against Iraq.
Looking ahead to the 2026 World Cup qualification, Salami expressed the team’s determination to achieve this milestone, highlighting the collective ambition from all team components, including management, players, and fans. He noted that reaching the World Cup for the first time is an uphill battle with many critical turns ahead.
The upcoming match against Iraq on November 14 at Basra International Stadium is crucial, as it will significantly shape the qualification race.
