Jordan vs Argentina LIVE: Lionel Messi to be on bench for World Cup 2026 game

Jordan are out but few teams have left a warmer mark on this World Cup — and their nickname tells much of the story.

Al-Nashama, they are known: “the chivalrous ones”.

After their heartbreaking defeat to Algeria, the eliminated debutants lived up to the billing, leaving their dressing room immaculate — chairs neatly arranged, the floor spotless — with a handwritten note thanking the host nations and a box of traditional Jordanian sweets for the staff.

The gesture captured a tournament that has meant far more at home than any scoreline. For Jordan’s historic debut, the government pushed back the start of the working day to 10am so the country could watch; in Amman, the 2,000-year-old Roman Theatre was transformed into a heaving fan zone, families packing its ancient stone steps before sunrise.

“We didn’t sleep last night,” one student told reporters. “To see Jordan’s flag flying at a World Cup is something we used to only dream about — winning or losing doesn’t change the fact history has already been written.”

Crown Prince Hussein visited the squad’s camp to lift morale. The whole kingdom, it seemed, was behind them.

The team has grown with every game too, as midfielder Noor Al-Rawabdeh said after the opener: “we overcame our fear … the next game will be more enjoyable.”

For Jordan, this was never really an ending — the message at home, from fans and federation alike, is that the tournament is a beginning, a foundation to build on. History has been written on a football pitch — again.