The Jordanian national team officially secured its qualification to the quarter-finals of the 2025 Arab Cup, after achieving a well-deserved and exciting 3-1 victory over its Kuwaiti counterpart, in the match that brought them together on Saturday at the Ahmed Bin Ali World Cup Stadium, so that "Al-Nashama" continued its strong performances and achieved a perfect score so far in the group stage.
Details of the confrontation and Jordanian control
The Jordanian national team entered the match with clear attacking intentions, and Muhannad Abu Taha capitalized on this early advantage by scoring a spectacular goal in the 17th minute with a long-range rocket from 35 meters that nestled into the right corner of the Kuwaiti goalkeeper Suleiman Abdul Ghafour's net. The Jordanians continued their pressure, with Mahmoud Mardi nearly doubling the lead, but his powerful shot struck the crossbar in the 19th minute. The first half ended with Jordan leading 1-0.
At the start of the second half, Saad Al-Rousan extended Jordan's lead with a second goal in the 49th minute, capitalizing on a perfectly placed cross. Despite Kuwait's attempts to get back into the game and reduce the deficit with a header from substitute Yousef Nasser in the 84th minute, Ali Alwan extinguished the "Blue" team's hopes by scoring the third goal from a penalty kick in stoppage time (90+7), which he himself earned after a brilliant piece of skill.
A golden era for Jordanian football and preparations for the World Cup
This qualification confirms the remarkable progress Jordanian football has made in recent years. The Jordanian national team, runners-up in the last Asian Cup, is enjoying its golden era as it prepares to compete in the World Cup finals for the first time in its history, scheduled for next summer in North America. The Arab Cup is considered a crucial preparatory stage to assess the players' readiness before the global tournament, especially after the World Cup draw placed "Al-Nashama" (the Jordanian team) in a tough group alongside world champions Argentina, as well as Algeria and Austria.
Group lead and qualification scenarios
With this victory, the Jordanian national team raised its points tally to 6, securing sole possession of first place in Group C, following its opening 2-1 win against the UAE. The group also awaits another match between the UAE and Egypt, after the latter drew 1-1 with Kuwait in the first round. Meanwhile, the Saudi Arabian national team was the first to qualify for the quarterfinals from Group B, while the schedule features other crucial matches between Bahrain and Algeria, and Sudan and Iraq, promising even more excitement in the upcoming rounds.
