Jordan shows heroic level despite losing to Austria in its first match of the World Cup
The Jordanian national team (Al-Nashama) lost its first match in the 2026 FIFA World Cup against the Austrian national team with a score of 3-1, in the match that took place on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium as part of the tenth group matches.
Despite the loss, the Jordanians presented a heroic and impressive performance, and the result was misleading to the course of the meeting, which saw Jordanian control in long periods, especially in the first half.
Match details
Coach Jamal Al-Salmi entered with an attacking 3-4-3 formation, relying on a trio of attackers that included Musa Al-Taamari, Odai Al-Fakhouri, and Ali Al-Awana. In contrast, Austrian coach Ralf Rangnick relied on a tight defensive organization with quick transitions.
| Team | Goals | Scorers |
|---|---|---|
| 🇦🇹 Austria | 3 | Roman Schmid, Yazen Arab (own goal), Marco Arnautovic (penalty) |
| 🇯🇴 Jordan | 1 | Ali Al-Awana |
First half: Jordanian control and Austrian goal
Al-Nashama dominated the course of the first half, appearing more dangerous and aggressive in creating spaces behind the Austrian defense. However, Austria scored first through Roman Schmid with a strong shot from outside the area, ending the first half 1-0 in their favor.
Second half: Historic goal and physical decline
In the 50th minute, Ali Al-Awana created one of the most beautiful moments of Jordanian football when he launched a counter-attack, running with the ball for more than 50 meters before adjusting his body position and unleashing a powerful shot that the Austrian goalkeeper Alexander Schlager could not stop — announcing Jordan’s first goal in World Cup history 🏆⚽️
Al-Awana celebrated in a touching manner, lifting the number 11 jersey of Yazen Naimat, the absent Jordanian national team’s top scorer due to injury. It was a sporting gesture that received widespread interaction.
After the goal, the Jordanian attacking performance calmed down, while Rangnick made three quick revitalizing substitutions that transferred the game to Jordan’s field. In the 72nd minute, Jordan scored an own goal through Yazen Arab after a set piece, making the score 2-1.
Coach Al-Salmi’s substitutions were delayed until the 87th minute, allowing Austria to gain complete control. In the 90+11th minute, a penalty was awarded to Austria, which Marco Arnautovic successfully converted, ending the match 3-1.
Match analysis
- Positives: bold attacking performance, creation of dangerous opportunities, first historic goal, excellent touches from Al-Awana and Al-Taamari
- Negatives: delayed substitutions (87th minute), clear physical decline in the last 20 minutes, defensive error that cost the second goal
- Tactics: The strategy of quick transitions succeeded in the second half, but Rangnick’s three substitutions in the 60th minute turned the scales
Group 10 standings
| # | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇦🇷 Argentina | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2 | 🇦🇹 Austria | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 3 | 🇯🇴 Jordan | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 4 | 🇩🇿 Algeria | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Argentina beat Algeria 3-0 in the other match in the group, to top the standings with a goal difference over Austria.
What’s next? — The next match
The Jordanian team will meet Algeria on Monday, June 22, 2026 in the second round, in a decisive match for both teams to stay in the qualifying race. The winner will retain their hopes of qualifying for the round of 16.
Austria will face Argentina on the same day in the group’s summit.
Historical glimpse: Jordan in the World Cup
This is the first participation of the Jordanian team in the World Cup championship throughout its history. The Nashama qualified after an exceptional journey in the Asian qualifiers, led by Moroccan coach Jamal Al-Salami and stars like Yazan Al-Nuaimat, Musa Al-Tamari, and Ali Al-Alwan.
Ali Al-Alwan’s goal will remain engraved in the memory of the Jordanian and Arab crowds as the first goal in Jordan’s World Cup history, amidst hopes that the upcoming matches will be better.
📰 Sources: FIFA, Al Jazeera Net, news agencies
