Ali Olwan

Ali Olwan became the man to write Jordan's name into World Cup history, scoring the country's first-ever goal in FIFA's flagship tournament during a Group Stage match against Austria on 17 June 2026. The strike levelled the score at 1-1, and Olwan was named Superior Player of the Match. Jordan were taking part in their first World Cup, having qualified through the AFC pathway, and Olwan's goal gave The Nation a marker that will outlast the tournament.

Olwan is one of Jordan's most prolific international forwards, with 29 goals in 64 appearances for the national team as of late 2025. He came through Amman clubs Al-Wehdat and Al-Jazeera before spells in the Qatar STARs League with Al-Shamal and a season in the Malaysian Super League with Selangor in 2024, where he scored on debut. He netted nine goals across Jordan's qualifying campaign and won the Golden Boot at the 2025 FIFA Arab Cup with six goals, with Jordan finishing as runners-up.

At 26, Olwan plays his club football in the Gulf region and is the centrepiece of Jordan's attack. His World Cup goal gives him a platform his performances in Asian football had long merited, and cements his standing as Jordan's most dangerous striker of his generation.