Jordan vs Algeria – Match Preview
Two sides on zero points, both with everything still to play for. That’s Group J, Matchday 2.
FIFA World Cup 2026, Group J. Monday, 22 June 2026, kicks off at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara – 23:00 ET local, which lands at 03:00 GMT in the early hours of Tuesday, 23 June for UK viewers. Capacity at the venue sits at just under 71,000.
Jordan arrive having lost their World Cup debut 3-1 to Austria, but with a result that flattered the scoreline – Ali Olwan’s stunning solo equaliser was the country’s first-ever World Cup goal. Algeria arrive having lost 3-0 to defending champions Argentina, but having held out for the best part of an hour before Lionel Messi’s class told. Both performances were better than their results. The question now is which side turns that into points.
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Recent Form
Jordan – last result
| Opponent | Result | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | L | 1-3 | World Cup 2026, Group J |
Algeria – last result
| Opponent | Result | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | L | 0-3 | World Cup 2026, Group J |
Jordan went behind early to a Romano Schmid strike, then produced a genuine slice of history when Ali Olwan bent home a brilliant solo finish from a Noor Al-Rawabdeh pass – Jordan’s first World Cup goal. They matched Austria for long stretches and even saw a Marko Arnautović goal ruled out by VAR, before an unfortunate own goal and a stoppage-time penalty turned a close game into a 3-1 defeat. Algeria’s night in Kansas City was a different shape entirely: disciplined and compact for almost an hour against the world champions, undone only when Messi broke through in the 17th minute and added two more before the final whistle.
Ali Olwan’s strike against Austria was Jordan’s first-ever goal at a FIFA World Cup.
Head-to-Head Record
There’s one meeting between these countries on record: a 1-1 draw in a friendly in Algeria back on 30 May 2004. Beyond that, the history is thin enough that it tells you almost nothing about Tuesday. This is, to all intents and purposes, their first competitive encounter.
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Team News & Injuries
No injury concerns reported at time of writing.
Neither Jamal Sellami nor Vladimir Petković has flagged a fitness or suspension issue after Matchday 1, and both go into this one with a fully available squad. Sellami’s bigger task is psychological – getting Yazan Al-Arab, scorer of an unlucky own goal against Austria, back to his best.
Expected Lineups
Jordan – Predicted XI (3-4-3) GK: Yazeed Abulaila DEF: Yazan Al-Arab, Mohannad Abu Al-Nadi, Abdallah Nasib MID/WB: Ihsan Haddad, Noor Al-Rawabdeh, Nizar Al-Rashdan, Mohannad Abu Taha FWD: Musa Al-Taamari, Ali Olwan, Omer Al-Fakhouri
Algeria – Predicted XI (4-3-3) GK: Luca Zidane DEF: Rafik Belghali, Aïssa Mandi, Ramy Bensebaini, Rayan Aït-Nouri MID: Nabil Bentaleb, Hicham Boudaoui, Ibrahim Maza FWD: Anis Hadj Moussa, Amine Gouiri, Farès Chaïbi
Both lineups are predicted, not confirmed. Sellami is expected to stick with the same shape that gave Jordan a platform against Austria. Petković’s main selection question is whether Riyad Mahrez, who came off the bench against Argentina rather than starting, forces his way into the XI from kick-off – reports on Algeria’s exact starting attack vary, with some previews pencilling Mahrez in alongside Gouiri and Mohamed Amoura instead of Chaïbi and Hadj Moussa.
Tactical Preview
Jordan’s 3-4-3 had its moments against Austria but also showed gaps under sustained pressure – the kind of structural lapse that cost them the own goal. Against a more direct Algeria attack, Sellami needs his midfield four to do a better job shielding the back three and denying central space, rather than relying purely on the vertical energy that produced Olwan’s goal.
Algeria’s defensive discipline held for close to an hour against the best team in the world, which is no small thing. What was missing was tempo in possession – too often the ball moved horizontally rather than forward, which let Argentina dictate territory even while Algeria’s structure stood firm. Quicker, more vertical ball progression through Boudaoui and Maza would let Algeria’s front three do more damage on a more even footing.
Key Battles
Ali Olwan vs Aïssa Mandi – Olwan’s movement and composure produced Jordan’s historic goal. Mandi anchored an Algeria defence that mostly held against Argentina until the very top level of finishing arrived. How he copes with Olwan’s central runs will matter more than the scoreline against Argentina suggests.
Ibrahim Maza vs Noor Al-Rawabdeh – Maza is Algeria’s instinct for finding space between the lines; Al-Rawabdeh’s assist against Austria showed he can punish exactly that kind of space if Jordan win the ball back quickly. Whoever controls that pocket of midfield likely controls the game.
Riyad Mahrez’s involvement – whether he starts or comes off the bench again, Algeria’s most decorated forward remains their highest-ceiling individual threat. Jordan’s defence will need a plan for him regardless of when he appears.
Stats Spotlight
| Stat | Detail |
|---|---|
| Group J position after MD1 | Jordan 3rd, Algeria 4th (both on 0 points) |
| Pre-tournament form (last 5, excl. WC) | Algeria: W3 D1 L1, 12 scored/2 conceded. Jordan: winless in 5, 6 scored/13 conceded |
| Riyad Mahrez international goals | 38 (Algeria’s all-time leading scorer) |
| Jordan World Cup history | First-ever appearance; first-ever goal scored vs Austria |
| Algeria win probability (one predictive model) | 61%, vs Jordan 14% and draw 24% |
Algeria’s pre-tournament form, excluding the Argentina result, reads three wins, a draw and just one defeat – scoring 12 and conceding only 2.
Jordan’s Ali Olwan scored the first goal in his country’s World Cup history.
Set-Piece Analysis
Specific set-piece data for this exact fixture hasn’t surfaced in the sources available, but the broader picture is instructive: Jordan’s own goal against Austria came from a corner, suggesting room for improvement defending dead balls under pressure. Algeria, with Mandi and Bensebaini’s experience at the back, should carry the more reliable presence at both ends from set plays.
Betting & Odds Insight
Algeria are the clear favourites across the market, and the underlying performance data backs that lean – their pre-tournament form was considerably stronger than Jordan’s, even setting aside the gulf in World Cup pedigree (Algeria have reached a Round of 16 before; this is Jordan’s tournament debut). One predictive model puts Algeria’s win probability at 61% against Jordan’s 14%, with a 24% chance of a draw – numbers that broadly track the eye test from Matchday 1. Specific live prices weren’t consistently available across sources at the time of writing, so check a licensed bookmaker for the latest odds before backing anything.
Odds subject to change. Please gamble responsibly.
Prediction & Verdict
Algeria 2-0 Jordan.
Jordan’s fight against Austria deserves credit, but they’re still winless in five matches across all competitions and conceded 13 goals in that run. Algeria, by contrast, showed real defensive discipline against the world champions and have the stronger pre-tournament numbers by some distance. Expect Algeria’s class in midfield and their greater squad depth to tell over ninety minutes, even if Jordan make them work for it.
Where to Watch
| Region | TV Channel | Streaming |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | ITV / BBC (per broader WC rights split) | ITVX / BBC iPlayer |
| United States | Fox Sports | Fox One, Peacock |
| France | TF1 | beIN Sports |
| Germany | ARD, ZDF | ARD/ZDF streaming apps |
| Netherlands | NOS | NOS streaming |
FAQ Section
What time is Jordan vs Algeria? Jordan vs Algeria kicks off at 23:00 ET on Monday, 22 June 2026, in Santa Clara, California. For UK viewers that’s 03:00 GMT in the early hours of Tuesday, 23 June – a genuinely late one.
Where can I watch Jordan vs Algeria? In the US, Jordan vs Algeria is live on Fox Sports. UK coverage follows the broader World Cup broadcast split across ITV and BBC. French viewers can find it on TF1 and beIN Sports.
Who will win Jordan vs Algeria? Algeria are the clear favourites given their stronger pre-tournament form and greater World Cup pedigree. Our verdict is Algeria 2-0 Jordan – see the Prediction & Verdict section above for the full reasoning.
What are the predicted lineups for Jordan vs Algeria? Jordan are expected to continue in the 3-4-3 shape that gave them a platform against Austria, led by Ali Olwan. Algeria are tipped to set up in a 4-3-3, though there’s some uncertainty over whether Riyad Mahrez starts or features off the bench again. See the Expected Lineups section for full team sheets.
What is the head-to-head record between Jordan and Algeria? Jordan and Algeria have met just once before, a 1-1 friendly draw in Algeria in May 2004. There’s effectively no competitive history between the sides heading into this World Cup clash.
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