Jordan vs Algeria prediction tips and odds | World Cup 2026

Jordan and Algeria meet at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara on Tuesday 23 June at 04:00 BST, with both nations desperate for points in their second Group J fixture at the 2026 World Cup. Neither side have earned a single point so far, and a defeat here would all but end any realistic hope of progressing to the knockout rounds.

Jordan, competing in their first ever World Cup, lost 3-1 to Austria on Matchday 1, while Algeria were beaten 3-0 by Argentina. The third and final group matches pit Jordan against Argentina and Algeria against Austria, which means this head-to-head carries the weight of an elimination tie for both sides. Those interested in football betting will find this a fascinating crossroads in the Group J picture.

Jordan vs Algeria form and preview

Jordan, known as Al-Nashama, reached this tournament after ten failed attempts spanning four decades of qualifying campaigns. The breakthrough came with a second-place finish in Group B of Asian qualifying, sealed by Ali Olwan's hat-trick in a 3-0 victory over Oman in Muscat.

Against Austria on Matchday 1, Jordan showed courage despite the technical gap. Jamal Sellami's side managed just 33% possession but still produced 11 shots, one more than Austria managed, and equalised at 1-1 through Olwan on 50 minutes, the first goal in Jordan's World Cup history.

The collapse came late. An own goal from Yazan Al-Arab on 76 minutes following a corner, then a penalty awarded via VAR for a handball by Saleem Obaid and converted by Arnautovic in the 12th minute of stoppage time, settled the contest at 3-1. Set-piece vulnerability remains the most glaring weakness in Jordan's defensive setup.

The wider form picture is bleak. Jordan have not won any of their last five matches, conceding nine goals across their most recent three outings (four against Switzerland, two against Colombia, three against Austria). The absence of Yazan Al-Naimat, who scored eight goals in qualifying and has been sidelined since December through injury, has significantly diminished the attacking output.

Musa Al-Taamari, Rennes' Ligue 1 winger, is the standout individual in the squad. Six goals and nine assists in 33 league appearances this season make him one of Jordan's main attacking threats and the only player in the squad competing in one of Europe's five major leagues.

Algeria return to the World Cup after a 12-year absence. Their last appearance, in Brazil in 2014, produced a famous run to the round of 16 where the Desert Foxes pushed eventual champions Germany to extra time before losing 2-1.

Vladimir Petkovic's side qualified comfortably, winning Group G of African qualifying with eight victories, one draw and one defeat. The pre-tournament friendlies reinforced the sense of momentum, with a 1-0 win away to the Netherlands and a 4-0 demolition of Bolivia in La Paz providing two impressive away results.

Against Argentina, however, the gap at the highest level became apparent. Algeria held 50% possession but managed just one shot on target from seven attempts. Messi scored a hat-trick and Luca Zidane, son of Zinedine, produced several important saves to prevent a heavier scoreline.

The squad depth separating these two sides is stark. Algeria have 13 players competing in Europe's top leagues, including Rayan Ait-Nouri at Manchester City, Ramy Bensebaini at Borussia Dortmund, Ibrahim Maza at Bayer Leverkusen, Amine Gouiri at Marseille and Fares Chaibi at Eintracht Frankfurt. Jordan have one, Al-Taamari at Rennes.

For the Desert Foxes, this is a fixture they will have identified as the pivotal moment in their group campaign. The opening defeat does not diminish a squad built to compete at the top of Group J, and a meeting with a World Cup debutant represents the clearest path back into contention. Betfred price Algeria at 1.60 for the win, reflecting a clear market expectation, and you can read the full breakdown of their World Cup markets in our Betfred sportsbook review.

Team news: Jordan vs Algeria

Jordan

Jordan lost two squad members before the tournament began. Al-Naimat was not included in the 26-man squad due to injury. Ibrahim Sabra also withdrew and was replaced by 20-year-old defender Mohammad Taha.

No suspensions were incurred on Matchday 1. The three-centre-back system deployed against Austria is expected to be retained, although Sellami may consider changes in the back line after Al-Arab's own goal and Obaid's handball which led to the penalty.

Olwan, scorer of Jordan's historic first World Cup goal, remains the primary attacking threat with 30 goals in 67 international appearances. Al-Taamari, the most experienced member of the squad with 93 caps and 24 international goals, continues to carry the creative burden.

Algeria

Algeria report no injuries within their 26-man squad. Petkovic has a fully fit group at his disposal and may opt for several tactical changes following the loss to Argentina.

The most significant potential change involves Riyad Mahrez. The captain and all-time leading scorer with 38 goals in 117 caps came on as a substitute in the 63rd minute against Argentina and could be promoted to the starting eleven in place of Anis Hadj Moussa. Ramiz Zerrouki may also come in for Maza in midfield to provide additional defensive cover.

Gouiri, the Marseille forward with 10 goals in 24 international appearances and eight Ligue 1 goals in 22 matches this season, remains the focal point of Algeria's attack.

Jordan vs Algeria predicted lineups

Jordan predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Y Abulaila; A Nasib, Y Al-Arab, M Abualnadi; M Abu Taha, N Al-Rawabdeh, N Al-Rashdan, E Haddad; A Olwan, O Al-Fakhouri; M Al-Taamari.
Manager: Jamal Sellami.

Algeria predicted XI (4-3-3): L Zidane; R Belghali, A Mandi, R Bensebaini, R Ait-Nouri; R Zerrouki, H Boudaoui, N Bentaleb; R Mahrez, A Gouiri, F Chaibi.
Manager: Vladimir Petkovic.

Head-to-head: Jordan vs Algeria

Jordan and Algeria have met just once in their history, in a friendly played in Algeria in May 2004 that ended 1-1.

With more than 22 years separating that solitary encounter from this fixture, the historical data carries no predictive weight whatsoever. The squads, coaching staffs and competitive context bear no resemblance to those of 2004, making this effectively a first meeting between two entirely different teams.

Our Jordan vs Algeria prediction and tips