Facing Messi and Argentina a dream, says Jordan’s Nasib

Jordan defender Abdullah Nasib says that playing against Lionel Messi and Argentina at the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 is a historic and motivating moment for his country.

"We are very excited to face the best player in the history of football, Lionel Messi, and to play against the world champions," Nasib, one of Jordan's standout players over the past few years, told FIFA.com after the second-round group stage match against Kuwait in the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025.

"Our group is good, and facing Argentina greatly motivates us as they are the defending champions."

Jordan has been drawn into Group J of the 48-team tournament alongside Argentina, Algeria, and Austria.

Nasib said the World Cup draw has injected fresh energy into the squad, describing it as a major source of motivation.

"Yesterday's [Friday] draw was a huge motivator for us. It's amazing to have reached the World Cup," he explained.

His comments came after Jordan's impressive victory over Kuwait, in which they dominated early and showed their attacking intent. Nasib praised the team's collective responsibility and the players' response following World Cup qualification.

"We gained three crucial points and all the players took responsibility in a very positive way. I congratulate the players, the technical staff, the medical team, and especially our fans who supported us until the last minute," he said.

While pleased with the performance, he acknowledged there is still room for improvement, particularly in managing games until the final whistle.

"We will work to stay more focused until the last minute and take advantage of our opportunities in the coming period," Nasib added.

Looking at the bigger picture, he described Jordanian football as being in a "golden moment," pointing to the team's recent achievements and growing belief.

"We are moving steadily forward and making progress. Qualifying for the World Cup has given us a huge boost and the confidence to achieve even more. We are well in sync as a group, and with our technical staff, we feel ready to continue this positive journey," Nasib concluded.