Matchday: Jordan to kick off FIFA Arab Cup against UAE

Jordan's national football team, the Nashama, begins their journey in the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 on Wednesday with a highly anticipated opening match against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor.

The encounter, set for 8:00 PM local time marks the start of Group C action for both sides in the tournament hosted by Qatar from December 1 to 18. As the second edition of the FIFA-organized event, it features 16 Arab nations competing across four groups, with the top two from each advancing to the quarterfinals.

Jordan, under coach Jamal Sellami, qualified automatically as one of the higher-ranked teams and aims to improve on their quarterfinal exit in the 2021 edition. The tournament's group stage concludes on December 9, with knockout rounds following until the final on December 18 at Lusail Stadium.

Drawn in a competitive Group C alongside Egypt, UAE, and Kuwait, Jordan faces a tough path.

Today's clash with UAE is pivotal, as a positive result could set the tone before subsequent games against Kuwait on December 6 and Egypt on December 9. Egypt and Kuwait kicked off the group's fixtures yesterday, with Egypt seeking to leverage their historical pedigree despite missing some stars.

Jordan's preparations have been bolstered by strong recent form, including impressive showings in World Cup qualifiers.

Goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila expressed confidence, stating the team is "going for gold" in the Arab Cup while eyeing further success in 2026 World Cup aspirations.

Coach Sellami emphasized defensive solidity and quick transitions, but with key players like forward/winger Mousa Al-Taamari and center back Yazan al-Arab missing due to commitments with their clubs.

On the UAE side, coached by Cosmin Olăroiu, the team returns to Qatar seeking redemption after missing World Cup qualification.

They boast a balanced squad with experience from Gulf competitions, aiming to exploit counter-attacks.