Jordan's promising defender Issam Smeeri has been sidelined from the country's maiden FIFA World Cup campaign due to a ruptured Achilles tendon.
Jordan's promising defender Issam Smeeri will miss his country's maiden FIFA World Cup campaign after suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon, according to a statement by the Jordan Football Association on Friday. The 26-year-old right-back was injured during an individual training session with the national team and has been ruled out of the tournament scheduled from June 11 to July 19 in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Smeeri's absence is another major setback for Jordan ahead of their historic World Cup debut. Additionally, Yazan Al-Naimat and Adham Al-Quraishi are also unavailable due to anterior cruciate ligament injuries sustained during a previous tournament. Despite these setbacks, Jordan secured qualification in an impressive 3-0 away victory over Oman earlier this year, confirming a second-place finish in Asia's Group B behind South Korea.
Jordan will now head into the World Cup full of confidence, having been drawn into a challenging Group J alongside Algeria, Austria, and defending champions Argentina. Their clash against Lionel Scaloni’s side at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas is expected to be one of the standout fixtures of the group stage.
Although the debutants face a difficult task against experienced opposition, Jordan possess several talented players capable of making an impact on football's biggest stage. The team will hope to deliver a memorable first appearance at the tournament and showcase their potential on the global stage.
