Jordan lost their first-ever World Cup match. Then they won something arguably harder to earn: genuine respect from the global football community.
FIFA took to social media on June 23, 2026, to highlight what the governing body called “ultimate respect” from Jordan’s national team, Al Nashama. After falling 2-1 to Algeria in their Group J opener on June 22, the squad left behind a dressing room so clean it looked like nobody had used it. Chairs neatly arranged, facilities spotless, and on the table: a box of traditional Jordanian sweets and a handwritten thank-you note expressing gratitude to the hosts.
A debut defined by character, not just the scoreline
The handwritten note, addressed to the tournament hosts in the US, Canada, and Mexico, thanked them for their hospitality. The traditional sweets were a characteristically Jordanian touch, the kind of detail that doesn’t happen by accident.
Coach Jamal Sellami, the Moroccan tactician leading Al Nashama, expressed pride in his squad despite the early elimination from the tournament.
