Raphael Durand
Dailysports's expert
One of Friday's international friendlies will unfold in Dammam at the Al Ettifaq Club Stadium, where Saudi Arabia hosts Jordan. I’m tipping a bet on goals in this encounter, with promising odds for success.
Match preview
The "Green Falcons" scraped their way into the third round of qualification, conceding the top spot in Group H to Jordan only on goal difference. Despite mixed results in the qualifiers, Hervé Renard’s squad is showing signs of resurgence: a narrow victory over China (1-0) and a goalless draw away to Japan highlight growing consistency. Saudi Arabia currently sits third in Group C, just three points shy of an automatic World Cup berth.
Personnel shortages remain an issue—due to Al-Ittihad and Al-Qadisiyah’s participation in the King’s Cup final, Renard is without several key players. Among the absentees are Muhannad Shanqeeti and Jihad Tahri, the latter having just made his debut against Japan. Nevertheless, even with a rotated lineup, Saudi Arabia remains a threat—especially on home soil, where the team traditionally feels more confident.
Under Jamal Sellami, Jordan is experiencing one of the brightest spells in its footballing history. After advancing to the third qualifying stage, the "Knights" have firmly established themselves in second place in Group B, ahead of Iraq and Oman and on the brink of a historic first World Cup appearance. The team has collected 13 points, and despite South Korea’s dominance, the Jordanians have emerged as the revelation of this qualifying campaign.
Recent results have been moderately stable: just one win, six draws, and one loss in their last eight matches. Up front, the focus is on the trio of Al-Taamari, Al-Mardi, and Al-Nuaimat, who bring dynamism and mobility. At the back, Jordan continues to employ a three-centre-back system, ensuring defensive solidity and control of the game’s tempo.
Probable lineups
- Saudi Arabia: Al-Aqeedi, Abdulhamid, Lajami, Tambakti, Bushail, Yahya, Al-Ghamdi, Al-Dawsari, Al-Dawsari, Al-Buraikan, Al-Sahafi
- Jordan: Abdulilah, Naseeb, Al-Arab, Abdulnadi, Haddad, Al-Rashdan, Jamous, Taha, Al-Taamari, Al-Mardi, Al-Nuaimat
Match facts and head-to-head
- The teams traded wins in their two qualifying meetings: Saudi Arabia triumphed 2-0 in Amman, while Jordan claimed a 2-1 victory in Riyadh.
- Jordan is unbeaten in four straight matches but has only one win in their last eight.
- Saudi Arabia has not conceded in their last two games, but managed to score just one goal across those fixtures.
Prediction
Both teams approach this friendly with caution. Saudi Arabia is keen to protect its unbeaten streak, while Jordan aims to stay sharp ahead of decisive qualifiers. Both sides boast balanced defensive setups, but their attacks have been far from prolific in recent weeks. All signs point to a tight, low-scoring contest.
