Years of support wins Jordan its first-ever FIFA World Cup qualification: official

Jordan's historic first qualification for the FIFA World Cup was made possible due to years of support for the country's sports development, said a senior Jordanian official.

After decades of dreams and close calls, the Jordanian national team, Al-Nashama, has qualified for the 2026 World Cup finals, taking place across North America from June 11 to July 19.

The achievement has not only changed the course of Jordanian sports but also reshaped how Jordanians perceive the limits of their ambitions.

According to Jordanian Minister of Youth Raed Al-Adwan, it also underscores the significant progress Jordanian football has made in recent years and opens the door to a new era of ambition and international presence.

"Sports in Jordan are a fundamental and essential sector, viewed by the state in all its components, starting with His Majesty the King, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, His Royal Highness Prince Ali, and His Royal Highness Prince Faisal. We observe this absolute royal support for the sports sector in general. Through support of the Football Association, and the absolute royal and popular support, the national team, Al Nashama, has reached international levels and reached the World Cup," said Al-Adwan.

Across the kingdom, the celebrations were more than just joy over a victory. In Amman, Irbid, Karak, Ma'an, and Zarqa, Jordanians took to the streets to celebrate the moment as a unifying national achievement.

For many years, the World Cup remained an elusive goal as generations of players came and went, but Jordanian football continued to build quietly.

"This is a moment we have honestly been waiting for a long time. Since we were young, we have dreamed that the Jordanian national team would play in the World Cup. When our national team played in an Asian championship or any external championship, we were very happy if the team achieved a good result or won a match, so what about qualifying for the World Cup? We are proud of the national team's qualification for the World Cup. It is a historic moment, and we are eagerly awaiting its participation," said Mohammad Al-Ananzeh, a Jordanian citizen. Experts believe that the significance of this achievement lies not only in the qualification itself, but also in affirming the message that investing in sports, developing talent, and long-term commitment can transform fate.

Years of support wins Jordan its first-ever FIFA World Cup qualification: official

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that a peace deal with Iran is scheduled to be signed on Sunday and that the Strait of Hormuz will reopen immediately afterward.

"The Deal is scheduled to get signed tomorrow, and immediately after it is signed, the Hormuz Strait is open to all," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

Trump also claimed that Iran now "no longer wants a nuclear weapon" and suggested the United States will work with Iran to remove enriched uranium at an "appropriate time."

He said the signing of the deal would make U.S. relations with Iran "different and better," but warned that "we have the ultimate alternative" unless the process moves forward "quickly, easily and smoothly."

Pakistani Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar also said Saturday that an electronic signing ceremony of the U.S.-Iran deal is scheduled for Sunday, after Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said earlier on the day that the United States and Iran had agreed on a peace deal framework and were expected to sign it shortly. Pakistan has been mediating the U.S.-Iran peace negotiations.

However, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqhaei reportedly denied that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Iran and the United States to end the conflict would be signed on Sunday, citing what he described as "the other side's hesitation."

Baqhaei also stressed that any potential MoU between Iran and the United States "would merely serve as a framework for continuing talks" and should not be regarded as "a final agreement."

He added that discussions on the nuclear issue are expected to continue over a 60-day period, according to Iranian state media reports.

Trump says US-Iran peace deal to be signed Sunday