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Jordan head into the quarter-finals with a perfect record of three wins, comfortably securing the top spot in Group C. Their strong campaign opened with a 2-1 victory over the UAE, followed by convincing wins against Kuwait (3-1) and Egypt (3-0)—extending the incredible momentum they’ve built since reaching the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 final.

Their resurgence didn’t stop there. Jordan later celebrated a historic milestone by qualifying for the FIFA World Cup for the first time, and they are expected to perform at their absolute best in the knockout stage.

On the other side, Iraq enter the matchup hungry to rebound after finishing second in Group D. They booked their quarter-final berth with solid wins against Bahrain (2-1) and Sudan (2-0), though they stumbled in their final group game with a 2-0 loss to defending champions Algeria.

With the FIFA Playoff Tournament looming in March and the long-term goal of securing a place at next summer’s global showpiece, Iraq know that defeating Jordan would be a massive confidence boost.

Jordan’s Rising Stars Lead a Historic Push for the Title as Ali Olwan Shines as Tournament Top Scorer

Ali Olwan, one of Jordan’s biggest stars in recent years, continues to shine as the tournament’s top scorer with three goals. Speaking to FIFA after the match, Olwan explained how the Nashama have maintained such an exceptional level despite missing several regular starters and marquee players like Mousa Al Tamari of Stade Rennais.

“None of our squad are here to make up the numbers,” Olwan said. “Any player the coach selects will give 100% for the Jordan badge. Today was a massive opportunity for every player to prove themselves. We topped the group, thank God, and what's to come will be even better.”

Issam Smeeri also revealed the secret behind Jordan’s strength and consistency. According to him, the team fights “like soldiers” on the pitch and is willing to sacrifice for the flag and for coach Jamal Sellami, no matter who starts.

“In the Jordan shirt, we don’t play with the mentality of just 11 starters. We have the mentality of a team of 23,” Smeeri said. “We’re lucky to have coach Jamal Sellami, and he’s lucky to have this squad. All he has to do is choose the team he wants, and we’re soldiers ready to carry out our duties.”

Another standout performer, Saed Al Rosan, emphasized the squad’s ambition at the regional showpiece in Qatar. “We've played three excellent matches—both in performance and results—and we took maximum points,” he said. “From day one we declared our aim: to win the title. Coach Jamal is doing an outstanding job. He’s given confidence to every player, whether starting or coming off the bench.”

Despite the momentum, Olwan acknowledges that the Nashama’s mission is far from simple. Each achievement brings more pressure, and expectations have risen dramatically.

“I always said we would become the best generation in Jordan’s history once we achieved something significant, and reaching the Asian Cup final proved that,” Olwan said. “After that, the pressure grew. Fans expect positive results all the time and want us to go further in every competition. Thanks to the coaching staff—Jamal Sellami and Hussein Ammouta before him—we’ve delivered what was required.”

Olwan also praised the passionate Jordanian fans who continue to play a vital role. “We can’t thank our fans enough. Their presence in Qatar has been incredible,” he said. “Their voices are always the loudest in the stadium, giving us motivation and excitement to perform at our best.”

Although his main focus remains winning the title, Olwan admits that he has an eye on finishing as the tournament’s top scorer. “The most important thing is winning the championship for Jordan,” he said. “But I also hope to win the top scorer award if possible. There’s no reason why not.”