Jordan vs Algeria Preview: Team News & Prediction | FIFA World Cup 2026 | Group Stage
Both of these two teams will need a result here after suffering defeats in the opening round of fixtures in Group J at FIFA World Cup 2026 as Jordan now face Algeria in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – ITV / USA – FOX Sports
How to watch online: UK – ITVX / USA – FOX One
Jordan preview: Competitive but beaten
Having endured a difficult build-up to the tournament with pre-tournament friendly defeats to both Switzerland and then Colombia, Jordan were surprisingly competitive in their opening game at FIFA World Cup 2026 but they still succumbed to a fairly comfortable loss against Austria.
Austria opened the scoring mid-way through the first half via Werder Bremen attacking midfielder Romano Schmid. Jordan then, surprisingly, got themselves an equaliser with a brilliant Ali Olwan strike before Jordan eventually got themselves clear and ahead with a Yazan Al Arab own goal before a Marko Arnautovic penalty in second half stoppage time.
Algeria preview: Undone by the best
Having exchanged disallowed goals, due to narrow offside calls, in the opening stages of Algeria's first group stage game against world champions Argentina in Kansas City, Algeria remained enterprising throughout the game, with a genuine threat that worried the three-time world champions.
However, the Algerians did eventually succumb to what, on paper, looks like a hammering as they were beaten 3-0 - but that result was harsh on the North Africans and inspired by Lionel Messi, who scored his first ever FIFA World Cup hat-trick.
Jordan team news: Unlikely to change
Further team news will appear here closer to the match after pre-match press conferences...
Jordan will believe that their game plan generally worked against an Austria side that are similarly rated to the Algerians. Had it noe been for the misfortune of an own goal and then a very late penalty, Jordan would have had their way with a point.
As a result, given there does not appear to be any injury issues and there are no suspensions either, Sellami may well name an unchanged eleven here.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Abulaila; Nasib, Al Arab, Abualnadi; Haddad, Al Rashdan, Al Rawabdeh, Abu Taha; O. Al Fakhouri, Olwan; Al Tamari
Unavailable:
Questionable:
Algeria team news: Bensebaini passed fit
Further team news will appear here closer to the match after pre-match press conferences...
There were some major calls made by Vladimir Petkovic with captain Riyad Mahrez left out alongside Ramiz Zerrouki, while Houssem Aouar and Mohamed Amoura were also surprise absentees from the eleven.
Having had it suggested that Borussia Dortmund defender Ramy Bensebaini would miss out on the opening game, the versatile defender in fact started and came through their defeat to Argentina unscathed.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Zidane; Belghali, Mandi, Bensebaini, Ait-Nouri; Boudaoui, Bentaleb; Hadj Moussa, Maza, Chaibi; Gouiri
Unavailable:
Questionable:
Jordan’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Yazan Al Arab ($3.7m) – Defender
Ehsan Haddad ($3.5m) – Defender
Mousa Al-Tamari ($5.6m) – Forward
Matchday 2 captain pick: Mousa Al-Tamari
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Ali Olwan
Free kicks: Musa Al-Taamari, Ali Olwan
Corners: Musa Al-Taamari, Mahmoud Al-Mardi
Algeria’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Rayan Ait-Nouri ($4.9m) – Defender
Fares Chaibi ($6.2m) – Midfielder
Amine Gouiri ($6.2m) – Forward
Matchday 2 captain pick: Amine Gouiri
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Riyad Mahrez, Nabil Bentaleb
Free kicks: Riyad Mahrez, Fares Chaibi
Corners: Riyad Mahrez, Fares Chaibi
Key stats
- World Cup debutants Jordan are seeking their first positive result in the competition having opened with a 1-3 defeat against Austria.
- Only one of Algeria’s 14 previous FIFA World Cup matches finished goalless.
- Nabil Bentaleb and Aïssa Mandi have the most World Cup appearances in the current squad, and both could play their fifth match in the competition; 11 players have reached the landmark previously for Algeria.
- Ali Olwan became Jordan’s first-ever goalscorer at the FIFA World Cup against Austria. The number 9 has pedigree at FIFA competitions, having finished as the leading marksman at last year’s FIFA Arab Cup™ with six goals.
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Jordan vs Algeria prediction
Jordan proved themselves to be relatively awkward opposition against the Austrians, which is more than can be said for how Jamal Sellami's side went into the tournament with Colombia and Switzerland easing past them quite comfortably. That stubbornness didn't produce a result for Jordan and does actually now mean that they are now winless in six matches since reaching the final of the FIFA Arab Cup.
Algeria had shown real quality and a bit of variety to their game before the tournament with stubborn performances themselves against the Netherlands and Argentina, as well as hammerings of weaker opposition such as Guatemala and Bolivia. Jordan are one of the weaker teams now and, without Lionel Messi to spite them, Algeria will be confident of getting a much-needed victory here.
Jordan vs Algeria betting tip: Algeria to win
