Preview: Jordan vs South Korea – Prediction, Team News, Lineups

The first and second placed teams from Group B of the AFC third round qualifiers will meet on Thursday afternoon Jordan takes over South KoreaBoth teams will be looking to maintain their strong starts as they strive to qualify for 2026 World Cup.

The hosts are top of the group with four points from two games, while the visitors also have four points but are behind on goal difference.

Game preview

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Having never qualified for a FIFA World Cup tournament before, Jordan has made a fantastic start to secure a place in the newly expanded 48-team 2026 edition.

They finished first in their second round group with 13 points from six games, notably ahead of Saudi Arabia on goal difference, and continued this good form in the third round group.

Jamal Sellamiwho took over in July 2024, led his team to a win and a draw in their first two games, putting them at the top of the table with four points.

Despite being at the top heading into the next two games, both South Korea and Iraq are level on points with Sellami's side, making each game crucial in their bid to stay in the race for the top two spots and ultimately secure automatic qualification to secure the 2026 World Cup.

Sellami will be hoping his team can pick up a crucial three points in the upcoming game against arguably the strongest team in the group, South Korea, while he also aims to build on his unbeaten start to life as a coach.

South Korea, on the other hand, is aiming to qualify for the World Cup for the 11th consecutive year. This is a remarkable achievement considering that the country only took part in the 1954 edition before beginning the series of consecutive qualifications in 1986.

After dominating their second-round group and comfortably finishing first with 16 points from six games, South Korea would have been extremely confident of progressing to the third-round group.

However, they began their third round qualifiers with a disappointing 0-0 draw against Palestine, and in the second game they had to rely on two late goals to narrowly secure a victory over Oman.

Hong Myung-bowho is leading the team for the second time, having previously held the position from 2013 to 2014, will be aiming for a much more confident victory in the upcoming game.

South Korea have struggled against Jordan in recent meetings, drawing 2-2 in the group stage of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup before losing 2-0 in the semi-finals and missing out on revenge in that game.

Jordan World Cup Qualification – Asian Form:

Jordanian form (all competitions):

South Korea World Cup Qualification – Asia Form:

Team news

© Imago

The hosts could name a team similar to the one that featured in the group's first two games Yazan Al-Naimat are likely to take the lead after scoring two goals in their last game.

Mousa Al-Taamari was called up to the squad, although he did not feature for either club or country after sustaining an injury in the draw against Kuwait, so the attacking midfielder is questionable here.

As for South Korea, Heung-min son has been called up to the squad despite missing Tottenham Hotspur's recent games with a muscle injury, but the striker could be fit in time to play here.

Elsewhere, a similar team to the 3-1 win over Oman in the last game could start here Hee-Chan Hwang And Kang-in Lee play from wide positions.

Jordan's possible starting lineup:
Abulaila; Nasib, Alarab, Dahab; Haddad, Al-Rashdan, Al-Rawabdeh, Hasheesh; Olwan, Al Mardi; Al-Naimat

Possible starting lineup for South Korea:
Hyeon Woo; Young-woo, Seung-hyun, Min-Jae, Myeong-jae; Yong Woo, In Beom; Kang-in, Heung-min, Hee-Chan; Se-hun

We say: Jordan 1-3 South Korea

While both teams appear to be on par based on their results so far in the group, South Korea undoubtedly has more talent throughout the squad and should secure a win here.

For data analysis of the most likely outcomes, scores and more for this game, please click here.

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