Al Jalil · AFC Champions League Two · Defender · #4 · Jordan · 22 yrs
Jordan FA president says Fifa threatened to block fundsSecretary general calls selloff plan ‘sad and reproachable’The Jordan Football Association president, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, has accused Gianni Infantino’s administration of “blackmail”, claiming that Fifa threatened to withhold financial assistance from his federation if it refused to back the president’s bid for re-election.In a major intervention Prince Ali, who ran for the Fifa presidency against Infantino in 2016 and finished third, listed a number of problems dogging the global governing body and said Jordan’s players have not yet been paid for appearing in the Arab Cup last year. Prince Ali is head of the West Asian Football Federation, which includes influential states such as Qatar and the United Arab Emirates that have thus far backed Infantino to stay on. Continue reading...
This clash will determine whether either national team can keep their knockout-stage dream alive after both suffered defeats in their opening two matches. Senegal and Iraq enter their final 2026 World Cup group match knowing that their tournament future could be decided by a single result. This clash will determine whether either national team can keep their knockout-stage dream alive after both suffered defeats in their opening two matches. Both sides arrive at the meeting after difficult campaigns so far, with Senegal losing to France and Norway, while Iraq fell against the same two opponents. The final Group I fixture represents a last opportunity for both national teams to fight for a place among the eight best third-placed teams that will advance to the Round of 32. Before the final matchday, France and Norway have already secured their places in the knockout stage after collecting six points from two victories each. France sits top with a +5 goal difference, while Norway follows closely behind with a +4 mark, meaning their own head-to-head battle will decide first place. At the bottom of the group, Senegal and Iraq remain without a single point. Senegal currently holds third place because their goal difference is -3 compared to Iraq’s -6, but both teams know that only a victory can give them a chance of continuing their World Cup journey. PositionTeamGPWDLGDPTSStatus1.France2200+56Qualified2.Norway2200+46Qualified3.Senegal2002-30Active4.Iraq2002-60Active A draw would leave both teams with just one point, which is expected to be insufficient in the race for the best third-place spots. The pressure is enormous, especially because the 48-team World Cup format gives teams one final opportunity to survive through the expanded knockout qualification system. What happens if Senegal wins? If Senegal beats Iraq, the Lions of Teranga will finish third in Group I with three points and eliminate Iraq from the tournament. However, Senegal’s qualification would still not be guaranteed. The African side would need to wait for results from other groups because only the eight strongest third-place teams will advance to the Round of 32. The Senegal team before the International Friendly match between Brazil and Senegal Goal difference could become the deciding factor. Senegal enters the match with a -3 goal difference after defeats against France and Norway, meaning a convincing victory would greatly improve their chances of moving into the knockout stage. What happens if Iraq wins? If Iraq defeats Senegal, the Lions of Mesopotamia will move into third place with three points, while Senegal will finish last and be eliminated. The challenge for Iraq is that their goal difference puts them in a difficult position. After heavy defeats to Norway and France, Iraq enters the final game with a -6 goal difference, meaning a narrow victory may not be enough to secure one of the best third-place positions. Iraq players celebrating A big win would significantly improve Iraq’s chances, but the national team would still need favorable results from other groups. Their path is much more complicated because they need both a positive result and help elsewhere. Iraq has shown fighting spirit despite facing one of the toughest groups in the tournament. Their only goal so far came from Aymen Hussein, who scored against France, but defensive struggles have left them with a difficult task heading into the final match. What happens if Senegal and Iraq draw? If Senegal and Iraq finish level, both teams will be eliminated from the 2026 World Cup. A draw would technically move Senegal to third place because of their better goal difference, while Iraq would remain fourth. However, one point would not be enough to compete with the other third-place teams fighting for knockout qualification. Kalidou Koulibaly of Senegal reacts The result would end the World Cup hopes of two teams that entered the tournament with different expectations. Senegal arrived as one of Afric
The final result could dramatically shape the standings, as Didier Deschamps’ side looks to continue its title challenge while Iraq fights to keep its tournament hopes alive. France and Iraq meet in a crucial Group I battle at the 2026 World Cup, with both national teams heading into the match with very different objectives. The final result could dramatically shape the standings, as Didier Deschamps’ side looks to continue its title challenge while Iraq fights to keep its tournament hopes alive. Les Bleus enter the match after a strong opening performance, defeating Senegal 3-1 thanks to a second-half surge led by Kylian Mbappe. Iraq, meanwhile, suffered a difficult start after falling 4-1 to Norway, leaving Graham Arnold’s side under pressure to find points against one of the tournament’s favorites. The match represents the first-ever senior international meeting between France and Iraq. While France carries the expectations of a two-time World Cup champion, the Lions of Mesopotamia arrive with the motivation of trying to create one of the biggest surprises of the competition. France’s strong start and Iraq’s tough challenge France showed why it remains one of the favorites for the tournament after overcoming Senegal in their opening Group I match. The national team struggled during parts of the first half but found another level after the break, with Mbappe scoring twice and Bradley Barcola adding another goal to secure three points. On the other hand, Iraq showed positive moments despite the loss to Norway, especially through striker Aymen Hussein, who scored their first goal of the tournament. However, defensive mistakes proved costly, and those errors cannot be repeated against a French attack filled with elite talent. The Iraqi national team will likely focus on defensive discipline, compact positioning, and quick counterattacks. Limiting Mbappe’s space will be the biggest challenge, especially after the French forward’s dominant opening performance. Group I PositionTeamPointsGoal Difference1.Norway3+32.France3+23.Senegal0-24.Iraq0-3 What happens if France wins? A victory would move France to six points and guarantee a place in the Round of 32, putting Deschamps’ team in a comfortable position before the final group match against Norway. The result would also leave Iraq stuck on zero points after two matches, making qualification extremely difficult. The Iraqi national team would need a dramatic turnaround in the final game against Senegal and would likely need help from other results to remain alive. Kylian Mbappe #10 of France celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026. France’s win would also increase the possibility of squad rotation in the final group match. With qualification secured, Deschamps could choose to protect key players ahead of the knockout stage. Depending on Norway’s result against Senegal, France could also move closer to securing the top spot in Group I. However, the final battle for first place could still come down to the heavyweight meeting between France and Norway on the final matchday. What happens if France and Iraq draw? A draw would move France to four points and keep it in control of its qualification path. The national team would still be in a strong position, needing only a positive result against Norway to secure progression. For Iraq, earning a point would provide a major boost. After losing their opener, a draw against France would keep their hopes alive heading into the final match against Senegal. Aymen Hussein of Iraq. The result would create a more complicated Group I picture. Norway could take advantage of the situation with a victory over Senegal, while France would have to wait longer before officially confirming its knockout place. What happens if Iraq wins? An Iraq victory would be one of the biggest shocks of the 2026 World Cup so far. The result would leave both France and Iraq on three points, completely changing the Group I race. Because Iraq
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