Amman: The U20 national football team of Jordan is gearing up to commence its Asian Cup qualifying campaign with an opening match against Afghanistan on Monday. The crucial encounter is set to kick off at 5 p.m. in Bahrain, marking the start of a series of fixtures for the young Jordanian squad.
According to Jordan News Agency, the Jordanian team will play three matches in the qualifying group. Following the opener against Afghanistan, they are scheduled to face host nation Bahrain at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday. The campaign will conclude with a match against Tajikistan at 5 p.m. next Sunday, making it a tightly packed schedule for the Jordanian side.
Jordan's squad for the qualifiers consists of 23 players, including Mohammad Shaloul, Qusai Halahleh, and Nour Al-Din Yassin, among others. The team is focused on securing a top position in their group to ensure advancement to the Asian Cup finals. The qualifiers feature 32 teams divided into eight groups, with group winners and the seven best second-placed teams earning spots in the finals.
Under the competition's regulations, the teams finishing last in their groups will enter the development stage for the next edition, highlighting the high stakes of the tournament. China is set to host the finals for the second consecutive time, with the event scheduled for March next year.