Two sides who suffered defeats in their opening fixtures are set to clash in a pivotal Group J encounter.

After watching fellow debutants Cape Verde and Curacao capture attention over the weekend, Jordan will now aim to make their own mark at the 2026 World Cup.

Jamal Sellami’s men put in a commendable display in their first Group J outing against Austria, where Ali Olwan created history as Jordan’s first-ever goalscorer in the tournament, despite a 3-1 loss.

Still without a point, Jordan now face Algeria in San Francisco in what seems their best opportunity yet to claim a maiden World Cup victory — before they take on Argentina and Lionel Messi in a daunting follow-up fixture.

Jordan WIN - 5/1

Draw - 3/1

Algeria WIN - 4/9

Sellami’s team held their own for long periods against Austria, who sit 47 places above them in the FIFA world rankings.

They came close to earning a valuable point in San Francisco, before conceding late on. The same venue will host their second match at 4am BST on Tuesday, June 23.

It’s unlikely that Sellami will make significant tactical changes, given that Jordan’s strategy has been centred on conceding possession and hitting on the counter.

This was evident against Austria, as they saw just 37 per cent of the ball but managed to match their opponents with 11 shots and four on target, while recording 21 touches inside the Austrian penalty area.

However, that counter-attacking approach could be dangerous against an Algerian outfit blessed with individual brilliance across the pitch.

The Desert Foxes’ star name remains Riyad Mahrez, formerly of Manchester City and Leicester City, who continues to ply his trade with Al Ahli in the Saudi Pro League.

At 35, Mahrez did not start Algeria’s 3-0 loss to Argentina in their opening match, only coming on in the 64th minute — a sign of the depth available to head coach Vladimir Petkovic.

Feyenoord winger Anis Hadj Moussa and Eintracht Frankfurt’s Fares Chaibi were preferred on the flanks, while Petkovic can also turn to Bayer Leverkusen’s playmaker Ibrahim Maza — affectionately nicknamed ‘Mazadona’ by fans — and Wolfsburg striker Mohamed Amoura, who led all scorers in African qualifying.

With that level of talent, Algeria will expect their attack to click soon, having been overshadowed by Messi’s hat-trick in the opener. They will view this fixture as a prime chance to secure three points and strengthen their bid for a place in the last 32.

Jordan, meanwhile, will be aware that taking anything from their match with Messi’s Argentina is unlikely, which could make this contest an open and entertaining affair.

Fans can watch Jordan vs Algeria in Group J of the 2026 World Cup free of charge.

The match will be broadcast live on ITV in the United Kingdom, FS1 in the United States, and SBS in Australia.

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