The Jordanian national football team, known as “Al-Nashama,” received a painful blow at a critical time, with the confirmed injury of its star and top scorer, Ali Alwan, which poses additional challenges for the team at the start of its historic journey in the decisive round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, scheduled to be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The 25-year-old striker suffered a serious ankle injury while playing for his club, Al Shamal, in the Qatari league. Following medical examinations, the club announced in an official statement that Alwan has torn ankle ligaments and will undergo surgery to repair the damage. This injury is expected to sideline him for up to three months, meaning he will definitely miss the opening rounds of the qualifiers, which begin in September.
A critical context and a historical dream
This injury comes at a time when Jordanian sports are experiencing unprecedented optimism and ambition following the national team's historic achievement in the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, where they reached the final for the first time ever. This accomplishment has raised expectations and made qualifying for the World Cup finals for the first time a legitimate and attainable goal. The Jordanian national team relies heavily on a distinguished generation of players, with Ali Alwan being one of its key pillars in the forward line, alongside stars like Musa Al-Taamari and Yazan Al-Naimat.
The impact of Alwan's absence on Al-Nashama's plans
The absence of Alwan is a significant blow for Moroccan coach Jamal Sellami, who relies on the player as a key element in his attacking system thanks to his speed, scoring ability, and playmaking skills. Alwan played a pivotal role in the national team's recent successes, both in the Asian Cup and the preliminary rounds of the World Cup qualifiers. Now, the coaching staff will have to find alternatives and adjust their tactical plans to compensate for this impactful absence in a challenging group that includes strong teams like Japan, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and China. This situation increases the pressure on his fellow attackers to shoulder greater responsibility in leading the team towards achieving their long-awaited World Cup dream.
