On Thursday Jordan will look to climb into a top two position when they host Palestine at Amman International Stadium on matchday seven of the World Cup 2026 qualification cycle for both teams.
The runners-up at the previous Asian Cup, currently sit third in Group B of third-round qualifying following a 1-1 draw with Kuwait in November, while the Palestinians held South Korea to that same result in their previous qualifier.
Match preview
Entering another cycle of World Cup qualification, the Jordanians have managed to remain in the hunt for a spot in the 2026 finals, but have also let some points slip away.
Jamal Sellami‘s men have failed to win two qualifying fixtures in this phase, and those four points dropped are looming large right now as only two points currently separate them from Iraq in second, and an automatic place in the 2026 World Cup.
The Chivalrous Ones, have yet to win an international match this year, playing to a 1-1 draw in a friendly versus North Korea on March 14.
Finding the back of the net has not been easy for them in recent outings, with Jordan failing to score more than once in 90 minutes since a 4-0 triumph at home to Oman last October.
At the same time they are unbeaten in their previous five matches played against teams in this region since losing 2-0 to South Korea in an October qualification fixture.
Jordan are unbeaten in 11 of their 12 matches played all-time against Palestine, claiming a 3-1 win when the two sides met in a September qualifier in Malaysia.
Making it this far into a World Cup qualification campaign is new territory for the Palestinians, and that has been evident since this phase began.
This is the first time they have made it to the third round of qualifying, and the Knights have not won any of their six matches played in this phase.
The Palestinian Football Association are hoping Ehab Abu Jazar can revive their qualification campaign, with the former U-23 national team coach appointed as the senior manager in December.
While they currently sit bottom of the table in Group B with just three points, it is not like they have been badly outclassed by their opponents, losing two of their three matches by a single goal and squandering an early one-goal advantage in their previous qualifier against South Korea.
Palestine have lost their previous four matches of 2026 qualifying as the visitors, failing to find the back of the net in each of those contests.
Their only triumph against the Jordanians came when these teams first met in the 1976 Pan Arab Games, with the Palestinians coming away with a narrow 2-1 win on that occasion.
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Team News
Jordan will be missing striker Ali Olwan for this clash as he is recovering from a sprained ankle, while Waseem Al-Riyalat, Mohannad Semreen, Ali Hajabi, Adham Al-Quraishi and Mohammed Al-Emwasi are all seeking their first caps with the senior squad.
Goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila can collect his 50th international cap on Thursday, and Yazan Al-Naimat, who had the only goal in their last qualifying fixture can reach that mark during this qualification cycle, having made 48 appearances for the national team.
On the Palestinian side, six players, including Bader Mousa, Khaled Al-Nabris, Assad Al Hamlawi, Adam Kaied, Hamed Hamdan, and Mahdi Assi, will be looking to make their first appearance for the senior squad.
Their only goal on matchday five of qualifying came courtesy of Zaid Qunbar, his third with the national team, while record goalscorer Oday Dabbagh is looking for his first with Palestine since bagging a hat trick in their 5-0 qualification victory over Bangladesh last March.
Jordan possible starting lineup:
Abulaila; Nasib, Al-Arab, Abdualnadi; Haddad, Al-Rashdan, Sadeh, Abu Taha; Al-Taamari, Al-Naimat, Al-Mardi
Palestine possible starting lineup:
Hamadeh; Al-Battat, Termanini, Hamed, Khalil; Kharoub, Sawafta, Jaber, Kaied; Qunbar, Dabbagh
We say: Jordan 1-0 Palestine
Both teams are well organised at the back, but the Jordanians should have a little more quality up top, even though one of their key players is out injured.
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