Ali Olwan named Superior Player of the Match at FIFA World Cup after scoring Jordan’s first-ever goal
The 26-year-old forward etched his name into Jordanian football history with an equalizer against Austria in the country's World Cup debut
Ali Olwan just did something no Jordanian footballer has ever done before. He put the ball in the net at a FIFA World Cup.
The 26-year-old forward scored Jordan’s first-ever World Cup goal during a Group Stage match against Austria on June 17, 2026, leveling the score at 1-1. For that performance, he was named the Superior Player of the Match, a fitting recognition for a moment that will likely be replayed on Jordanian television for decades.
A goal that rewrote a nation’s football history
To understand the weight of Olwan’s strike, you need to understand the context. Jordan had never appeared in a FIFA World Cup before this tournament. Not once. The country’s entire football history at the sport’s biggest stage began this month, and Olwan made sure the opening chapter included something worth celebrating.
Olwan currently plays his club football for Al-Sailiya in Qatar, having previously spent time with Selangor FC.
The road to this moment
On June 5, 2025, Olwan scored a hat-trick against Oman in a qualification match that secured Jordan’s place at the World Cup for the first time ever.
Before the qualifying heroics, Olwan had already announced himself on the regional stage at the 2025 FIFA Arab Cup. He finished that tournament as the top scorer with six goals, establishing himself as one of the most dangerous forwards in Middle Eastern football.