The Jordan men's national soccer team is preparing for its historic first-ever FIFA World Cup appearance, set to begin Wednesday in California.
The milestone comes exactly 80 years after the kingdom gained independence.
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The debutant squad secured its spot by finishing second in Group B during the third round of AFC qualifying, edging out Iraq by a single point.
Jordan has been placed in Group J alongside Austria, Algeria, and Argentina, with an all-Arab match against Algeria scheduled for June 23.
Training Camp and Royal Support
FIFA selected the University of Portland as the official Team Base Camp for Jordan during the group stage.
The team trains on the campus of the Oregon institution, one of only 48 official base camps designated across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Preparation began on May 21 at the Al-Nashama training center in Amman before moving to San Diego for a 10-day camp.
During the California stay, Jordanian Crown Prince Hussein visited the squad to boost morale.
“For me, what matters is next week, and we have great confidence in the team,” Hussein said in an interview with Qatar's beIN Sports.
“The achievements of the Jordanian national team over the past three years have given us, as Jordanians, feelings we have never experienced before.”
He added, “Today is our opportunity to present our Jordanian and Arab culture to the world.
Our group is not easy, but we have great confidence in our players. Their morale is high.
