Amman, Jordan — History was made on Thursday night as Jordan secured a spot at the FIFA World Cup for the first time in the nation’s history — and the streets of Amman lit up in wild celebration.

The Nashama sealed their place in the 2026 tournament, set to be hosted in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, with a commanding 3-0 victory over Oman. Star striker Ali Olwan delivered a stunning hat-trick, sending Jordan into football folklore.

Thousands of fans flooded the capital, waving national flags, blaring car horns, and singing victory chants into the early hours of Friday. In a dazzling drone display above the city, messages like “We are all with you!” and “It’s getting closer, heroes” glowed across the night sky.

The historic qualification was further confirmed after South Korea beat Iraq 2-0, securing Jordan’s second-place finish in their group on the penultimate day of Asian qualifiers.

Even Jordan’s King Abdullah II joined in the celebration, watching the match from London while on a state visit. The Royal Court released images of him proudly wearing the national team jersey.
“Congratulations to our beloved people and to the stars of our national team,” he wrote on X. “This achievement is well-deserved and long overdue.”

The joyous news landed just days before Eid al-Adha, turning the national holiday into a double celebration. “It’s a beautiful game and a beautiful time,” said Sohad Idrissi, 48, who watched the match with her family. “Today, the joy is twofold: Eid and the World Cup!”

“It’s a dream come true,” echoed Fadi Qalanzi, a 21-year-old university student. “Jordan finally gets the recognition it deserves on the global stage.”

For Osama al-Shreeda, 60, who has followed Jordanian football since the 1970s, the moment was deeply emotional. “We’ve waited a lifetime for this,” he said. “This isn’t just for Jordan. It’s for the Arab world.”

Jordan joins Uzbekistan — also first-time qualifiers — in making history. Uzbekistan earned their ticket to the World Cup with a goalless draw against the UAE, finishing second in their group behind Iran.

Palestine and Indonesia are now eyeing a place in the next playoff stage. Palestine's 2-0 win over Kuwait keeps their World Cup dream alive, while Indonesia held on to fourth place in Group C with a 1-0 victory over China.

With the expansion of Asian spots from four to eight for the 2026 edition, dreams that once seemed distant are now turning into reality for countries long overlooked on football’s biggest stage.


By Wafricnews Desk.