Long considered a developing side in the AFC region, Jordan has often come close to qualification, most notably in the 2014 qualifiers, where they reached the intercontinental playoffs before falling to Uruguay.

Jordan first topped their second-round qualifying group (13 pts), finishing ahead of Saudi Arabia (13 pts), Tajikistan (8 pts), and Pakistan (0 pts).

Official: FIFA unveils its new rankings after AFCON 2025

In the third round, they clinched direct qualification by finishing 2nd in Group B (16 pts), just behind South Korea (22 pts), but ahead of Iraq (15 pts), Oman (11 pts), Palestine (10 pts), and Kuwait (5 pts).

First appearance in 2026

No appearances before 2026

The final list has not yet been announced by the Jordan Football Association, so here is the preliminary squad:

Goalkeepers: Yazid Abulaila, Abdallah Al Fakhouri, Ahmad Al Juaidi, Nour Bani Attiah

Defenders: Mohammad Abualnadi, Yousef Abu Al Jazar, Husam Abu Dahab, Mohammad Abu Hashish, Mohannad Abu Taha, Yazan Al Arab, Saed Al Rosan, Ahmad Assaf, Anas Badawi, Abdallah Nasib, Ehsan Haddad, Saleem Obaid, Mohammad Taha

Midfielders: Mohammad Al Dawoud, Nizar Al Rashdan, Noor Al Rawabdeh, Rajaei Ayed, Amer Jamous, Yousef Qashi, Ibrahim Sadeh

Forwards: Mohammad Abu Zraiq, Mousa Al Tamari, Ali Azaizeh, Odeh Fakhoury, Ali Olwan, Ibrahim Sabra

Wednesday, June 17, 2026

Austria - Jordan

04:00 | San Francisco Bay Stadium

Tuesday, June 23, 2026

Jordan - Algeria

03:00 | San Francisco Bay Stadium

Sunday, June 28, 2026

Jordan - Argentina

02:00 | Dallas Stadium

All 48 qualified @FIFAWorldCup teams have finalised their Team Base Camp Training Sites 🏕️

Spanning Canada, Mexico and the United States, these venues will play a vital role for the participating nations as they prepare for the biggest FIFA World Cup™ ever.

— FIFA (@FIFAcom) May 30, 2026

The veteran of this 2026 World Cup will be Scottish goalkeeper Craig Gordon. He is 43 years and 162 days old, making him a quarter of a century older than the tournament's youngest participant. That honor goes to Mexican attacking midfielder Gilberto Mora, who is just 17 years and 240 days old.

O goleiro Escocês de 43 anos, Craig Gordon será o jogador mais velho da Copa do Mundo.Já o mais jovem será o Mexicano Gilberto Mora de 17 anos. pic.twitter.com/Fn3teIMcyN

— Don Ramón (@Donramonfc1) June 2, 2026

Looking at the age gap, 22 selected players have yet to turn 20, while this 2026 World Cup could be a (likely) final appearance for seven players in their forties. In total, 1,248 players are involved: 891 debutants and 357 who have already played in at least one World Cup. For Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Guillermo Ochoa, this will be their sixth tournament appearance.

José Mourinho has identified Denzel Dumfries as his top right‑back target, with the Real Madrid manager pushing to bring the Inter Milan defender to the Bernabéu, according to Nicolò Schira.

The Spanish giants have already made their first move, opening official talks with the representatives of the 30‑year‑old Dutch international. Mourinho is said to value Dumfries’ athleticism, work rate, and attacking contribution, viewing him as an ideal fit for his tactical system.

🚨🆕 Understand Denzel Dumfries and Real Madrid are close to reaching an agreement on personal terms.The only thing still missing is Real‘s final decision on whether to trigger the release clause worth less than €25m or not. Liverpool are monitoring the situation. Dumfries… pic.twitter.com/3dBVhgU6By

— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) June 2, 2026

Financially, the deal is particularly attractive for Madrid. Dumfries’ current contract with Inter includes a fixed release clause of €25 million, a manageable fee for a player with his experience and profile.

This season, the full‑back has made 28 appearances for the Nerazzurri, scoring five goals and providing two assists. Transfermarkt values him at €25 million — a figure that aligns closely with the clause. If Madrid move quickly, they could secure a Mourinho target without entering a protracted negotiation. The ball is now in the player’s camp, but the structure of the deal seems clear.

The young Spaniard's announcement signals a new direction. Ansu Fati is soon set to release his very first song.

"Hello! I can finally share some big news! On June 19, my debut single #SeaComoSea will be released. It's a very special project that I've created with a lot of excitement, and I've been eager to share it with all of you. I hope it will be with you, move you, and that you'll embrace it as much as I have. The link is in my bio so you can pre-save it and be among the first to listen when it's out. Thank you for being there and for being part of this new beginning." he posted on his Instagram account.

🚨 ANSU FATI 🇪🇸 SE LANCE DANS LA CHANSON ! 🎵❤️🤍« Bonjour ! Je peux enfin vous annoncer une grande nouvelle ! Le 19 juin prochain sortira #SeaComoSea, mon premier single. C’est un projet très spécial que j’ai créé avec beaucoup d’enthousiasme et que j’avais très envie de… pic.twitter.com/kfdwxvxxbI

— Actu Ligue 1 (@ActuL1_) June 2, 2026

Austria enjoyed a memorable run in 1954, clinching third place—their best result in the tournament’s history.

Official: FIFA unveils its new rankings after AFCON 2025

Their last appearance dates back to the 1998 World Cup in France, where they were knocked out in the group stage.

Austria topped their qualifying group, which included Romania, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and San Marino.

Ralf Rangnick’s men secured qualification with a draw against Bosnia (1-1).

7 appearances (1934, 1954, 1958, 1978, 1982, 1990, 1998)

29 matches: 12 wins, 4 draws, 13 defeats, 43 goals scored / 47 conceded

Goalkeepers: Alexander Schlager (RB Salzburg, AUT), Florian Wiegele (Viktoria Plzen, CZE), Patrick Pentz (Brondby, DEN)

Defenders: David Affenbruger (Elche, ESP), Kevin Danso (Tottenham, ENG), Stefan Posch (Eintracht Frankfurt, GER), David Alaba (Real Madrid, ESP), Philipp Lienhart (Freiburg, GER), Philipp Mwene (Mainz, GER), Marco Friedl (Werder Bremen, GER), Michael Svoboda (Venezia, ITA 2nd tier)

Midfielders: Xaver Schlager (RB Leipzig, GER), Nicolas Seiwald (RB Leipzig, GER), Marcel Sabitzer (Borussia Dortmund, GER), Florian Grillitsch (Braga, POR), Carney Chukwuemeka (Borussia Dortmund, GER), Romano Schmid (Werder Bremen, GER), Christoph Baumgartner (RB Leipzig, GER), Konrad Laimer (Bayern Munich, GER), Patrick Wiemmer (Wolfsburg, GER), Paul Wanner (PSV Eindhoven, NED), Alessandro Schöpf (Wolfsberger, AUT)

Forwards: Marko Arnautovic (Red Star Belgrade, SRB), Michael Gregoritsch (Augsburg, GER), Sasa Kalajdzic (LASK, AUT), Alexander Prass (Hoffenheim, GER)

Wednesday, June 17, 2026

Austria vs. Jordan

04:00 | San Francisco Bay Stadium

Monday, June 22, 2026

Argentina vs. Austria

17:00 | Dallas Stadium

Sunday, June 28, 2026

Algeria vs. Austria

02:00 | Kansas City Stadium

All 48 qualified @FIFAWorldCup teams have finalised their Team Base Camp Training Sites 🏕️

Spanning Canada, Mexico and the United States, these venues will play a vital role for the participating nations as they prepare for the biggest FIFA World Cup™ ever.

— FIFA (@FIFAcom) May 30, 2026

A few hours ago, the Italian club announced the name of their new coach, who is the former coach of the Belgian national team, Domenico Tedesco, and he is now the new coach of the Italian team.

Tedesco arrives in Serie A following a brief stint at Fenerbahçe, which ended in dismissal. His coaching career has taken him across Europe, with previous roles at Hoffenheim’s U‑19 side, Erzgebirge Aue, Schalke 04, Spartak Moscow, RB Leipzig, and the Belgium national team.

Domenico Tedesco è il nuovo allenatore del Bologna ❤️💙 Benvenuto! 😊Il comunicato: https://t.co/NIhisr7Zb1#WeAreOne pic.twitter.com/sZVcytLV88

— Bologna FC 1909 (@Bolognafc1909) June 2, 2026

Bologna will be hoping Tedesco’s experience brings stability and a clear tactical identity as they look to build on their recent progress. The deal includes an option for a further season, suggesting the club are planning for continuity — if the early signs prove positive. For Tedesco, it is a chance to rebuild his reputation after a difficult spell in Turkey. A new chapter begins in Emilia‑Romagna.

Neymar is already almost ruled out for Brazil’s opening 2026 World Cup clash against Morocco. Already in the United States, Carlo Ancelotti gave an update on his star player to the media gathered in New Jersey.

✈️🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/FLOHeDI0mn

— Neymar Jr (@neymarpc) June 2, 2026

"He’s making good progress, he’s doing well, we’re not rushing things," said the Canarinha manager. Sidelined for the friendly against Egypt and set to miss the World Cup opener versus Morocco, Neymar could be available for the group stage second match against Haiti.

Since Bayern are already looking for real reinforcements for their midfield, the Bayern Munich management found the player to be the best option after his recent impressive performances in Europe.

According to German journalist Florian Plettenberg, Bayern Munich are indeed interested in signing the Moroccan player, and have made a contract offer to the player through his representatives to discuss a new offer structure for the player.

The Bundesliga champions have shifted their focus toward Ismael Saibari after their pursuit of Anthony Gordon hit a standstill, prompting the club to explore alternative targets in the summer window.

Saibari remains under contract with PSV Eindhoven until 2029 and is awaiting the Dutch side’s official valuation before any concrete negotiations can begin.

🚨🧨 EXCL DETAILS | FC Bayern submitted a written offer to Ismael Saibari and his agency today.On Monday, direct talks took place between Vincent Kompany, Max Eberl, Saibari and his representatives.There is no agreement with PSV Eindhoven yet. Bayern also have clear financial… pic.twitter.com/Do3cotK2O7

— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) June 2, 2026

Meanwhile, interest in the attacking midfielder continues to build across Europe. Galatasaray and Paris Saint‑Germain are both reported to be monitoring his situation closely, setting the stage for a potential bidding war. For now, Saibari’s future remains uncertain, but the growing list of suitors suggests his next move could be a significant one. Whether the German champions can beat the competition remains to be seen, but they have made clear their intent to reinforce their attacking options.

The Fennecs arrive with fond memories of their last campaign, when they reached the Round of 16.

Algeria made its World Cup debut in 1982 in Spain and immediately made headlines. The Greens became the first African team to defeat a European side in a World Cup finals, overcoming Germany.

Official: FIFA unveils its new rankings after AFCON 2025

In 1986 and 2010, they were eliminated in the group stage before falling in the Round of 16 to eventual champions Germany after extra time.

The Fennecs booked their spot on matchday nine of the African qualifiers with a 3-0 victory over Somalia. They topped their group with eight wins, one draw, and just one defeat.

5 (1982, 1986, 2010, 2014, 2026)

13 matches: 3 wins, 3 draws, 7 losses, 13 goals scored / 19 conceded

Goalkeepers: Oussama Benbot (USM Alger, ALG), Melvin Mastil (Nyon, SUI), Abdelatif Ramdane (CS Constantine, ALG), Luca Zidane (Granada, ESP)

Defenders: Achref Abada (USM Alger, ALG), Rayan Aït-Nouri (Manchester City, ENG), Zinedine Belaïd (JS Kabylie, ALG), Rafik Belghali (Hellas Verona, ITA), Ramy Bensebaini (Borussia Dortmund, GER), Samir Chergui (Paris FC), Jaouen Hadjam (Young Boys, SUI), Aïssa Mandi (Lille), Mohamed Amine Tougai (Espérance Tunis, TUN)

Midfielders: Houssem Aouar (Al-Ittihad, KSA), Nabil Bentaleb (Lille), Hicham Boudaoui (Nice), Farès Chaïbi (Frankfurt, GER), Ibarhaim Maza (Bayer Leverkusen, GER), Yacine Titraoui (Charleroi, BEL), Ramiz Zerrouki (Twente, NED)

Forwards: Mohamed Amoura (Wolfsburg, GER), Nadhir Benbouali (Gyor, HUN), Adil Boulbina (Al-Duhail, QAT), Farès Ghedjemis (Frosinone, ITA), Amine Gouiri (Marseille), Anis Hadj Moussa (Feyenoord, NED), Riyad Mahrez (Al-Ahli, KSA)

Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Argentina - Algeria

01:00 | Kansas City Stadium

Tuesday, June 23, 2026

Jordan - Algeria

03:00 | San Francisco Bay Stadium

Saturday, June 27, 2026

Algeria - Austria

02:00 | Kansas City Stadium

All 48 qualified @FIFAWorldCup teams have finalised their Team Base Camp Training Sites 🏕️

Spanning Canada, Mexico and the United States, these venues will play a vital role for the participating nations as they prepare for the biggest FIFA World Cup™ ever.

— FIFA (@FIFAcom) May 30, 2026

This friendly, part of both teams' preparations for the 2026 World Cup, swung in favor of the Red Devils (2-0). Skipper for the day, Tielemans (38th minute), put Belgium in front, and the victory was sealed in stoppage time by a goal from Lukaku (90+6).

Croatia will play one last friendly against Slovenia on Sunday before flying to the United States, while Belgium will take on Tunisia this Saturday.

⏱️ 𝗙𝗨𝗟𝗟 𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘! 𝗕𝗘𝗟𝗚𝗜𝗨𝗠 𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗨𝗠𝗣𝗛𝗦 𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥 𝗖𝗥𝗢𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗔 🇭🇷 𝗜𝗡 𝗔 𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗟𝗬! ✅🇧🇪⚽️ Youri Tielemans SCORES after an assist from Jérémy Doku. ⚡️Romelu Lukaku came on in the 73rd minute and found the net at 90+6’. 👏🇧🇪12 matches unbeaten… pic.twitter.com/YUl08eHI3U

— Instant Foot ⚽️ (@lnstantFoot) June 2, 2026

The Black Stars have been holding a training camp in Wales ahead of this summer’s tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Their build‑up includes a friendly against the Welsh national team on Tuesday, 2 June.

Speaking before the match, Ayew highlighted how well the players have absorbed Queiroz’s ideas and implemented his methods in a short space of time.

“Training has been really, really good. The boys are committed, and the manager has come in and done a really, really good job. So, I guess that's acceptable. His ideas for us have been good and we've received them very well and are implementing them. We don't have time to wait. There's a game tomorrow. We're ready for tomorrow. We'll see how it goes.”

The friendly will serve as a crucial test before Ghana head to North America, with Ayew clearly believing the foundations are in place for a strong tournament. His words reflect a squad buying into a new system and eager to prove themselves on the world stage.

Local media even suggested that the starting price for negotiations was set at 50 million euros, with English clubs showing interest. But according to Mundo Deportivo, Hansi Flick is counting on the Frenchman for next season, even though the former Bordeaux player finished the season on the bench.

🚨 BARÇA OPEN TO OFFERS FOR KOUNDÉ, DESPITE HIS DESIRE TO STAY 🔵🔴🇫🇷The board is willing to listen to offers for Jules Koundé 👀👋But the French defender has no intention of packing his bags and wants to continue his adventure in Catalonia 🔙💥(@monfortcarlos) pic.twitter.com/lYCtiObvR6

— Lives Foot (@livesfoot) June 2, 2026

This could therefore lead Barça's management to abandon plans for a major sale this summer.

According to ESPN, the Argentine attacking midfielder’s former club is considering making a loan request. However, it remains to be seen what stance Los Merengues—and the player himself—will take.

🚨 FRANCO MASTANTUONO COULD RETURN TO RIVER PLATE ON LOAN! 🔙🇦🇷(@ESPNArgentina) pic.twitter.com/NLDl7ZcaoH

— Instant Foot ⚽️ (@lnstantFoot) June 2, 2026

As a reminder, Franco Mastantuono is not included in Argentina’s squad for the 2026 World Cup.

JS Kabylie continues to prepare for the summer transfer window with the aim of strengthening its attacking line. Among the targeted profiles is Mohamed-Islam Belkhir, whose contract with CR Belouizdad expires at the end of June.

Read also: Netherlands - Algeria: probable line-ups

According to information from Compétition, the Kabyle management has not yet started official talks with the winger so as not to disrupt the end of his season. However, his name remains high on the Canaries’ shortlist, as they look to recruit two wide players during this off-season.

Already targeted by JSK last summer, Belkhir still holds strong market value despite limited playing time this season. Again according to Compétition, the Kabyle management would be willing to make a greater financial effort to try to convince the player, who is also being tracked by other Ligue 1 sides.

Present since the inaugural tournament in 1930, Argentina has established itself over the decades as one of the greatest footballing nations on the planet.

Official: FIFA unveils its new rankings after AFCON 2025

La Albiceleste has won the World Cup three times: in 1978 led by Mario Kempes, in 1986 with Diego Armando Maradona, and in 2022 with Lionel Messi.

Argentina secured qualification with four matchdays to spare in the South American qualifiers. Lionel Scaloni's men finished top with 38 points (12 wins, 2 draws, 4 losses), nine points ahead of Ecuador.

18 (1930, 1934, 1958, 1962, 1966, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022)

88 matches: 47 wins, 17 draws, 24 losses, 152 goals scored / 101 conceded

Goalkeepers: Juan Musso (Atlético de Madrid, ESP), Geronimo Rulli (Marseille), Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa, ENG)

Defenders: Leonardo Balerdi (Marseille), Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon), Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate, ARG), Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United, ENG), Cristian Romero (Tottenham, ENG), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica, POR), Facundo Medina (Marseille), Nahuel Molina (Atlético de Madrid, ESP)

Midfielders: Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool, ENG), Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami, USA), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea, ENG), Leandro Paredes (Boca Juniors, ARG), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen, GER), Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis, ESP), Valentin Barco (Strasbourg)

Forwards: Lionel Messi (Inter Miami, USA), Julian Alvarez (Atlético de Madrid, ESP), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan, ITA), Thiago Almada (Atlético de Madrid, ESP), Nico Paz (Como, ITA), Nicolas Gonzalez (Atlético de Madrid, ESP), Giuliano Simeone (Atlético de Madrid, ESP), José Manuel Lopez (Palmeiras, BRA)

Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Argentina vs. Algeria

01:00 | Kansas City Stadium

Monday, June 22, 2026

Argentina vs. Austria

17:00 | Dallas Stadium

Saturday, June 27, 2026

Jordan vs. Argentina

02:00 | Dallas Stadium

All 48 qualified @FIFAWorldCup teams have finalised their Team Base Camp Training Sites 🏕️

Spanning Canada, Mexico and the United States, these venues will play a vital role for the participating nations as they prepare for the biggest FIFA World Cup™ ever.

— FIFA (@FIFAcom) May 30, 2026