German Footballer Shocks in Stunning World Cup Qualifier Performance
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A Breathtaking Journey for Jordan's Unknown Footballer to World Cup Glory
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Get ready for some fresh faces at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as Uzbekistan and Jordan clinch their spots in the mega-tournament. While an Uzbek now suites up for Pep Guardiola, a Jordanian has graced the fields of Eichstätt and Eilenburg.
Meet Ahmad Assaf, a name barely known outside football enthusiasts and local league aficionados. The 25-year-old right-back, born and raised in Munich, rose through the ranks of less-celebrated European football with a taste for the game. Taking his journey through the footballing lowlands of Bavaria, Saxony, and Bremen, Assaf has made it to the 2026 World Cup after serving the Jordan national team.
That's right. Despite his modest club career, Assaf made it to the World Cup. How did he manage to snatch this extraordinary opportunity? At the start of the year, he was called up to Jordan's national team, a chance that came unexpectedly given his not so flashy club history—playing for SpVgg Landshut, VfB Eichstätt, FC Eilenburg, Türkspor Munich, Bremer SV, and twice in Bosnia. Now Assaf plays for US Rumelange in Luxembourg's second division. On a late Thursday evening, "The Reds", as the footballers from Jordan are affectionately known, secured their World Cup debut with a thrilling 3:0 win in Oman [1][2].
A Dream Come True for Jordan
For Jordan, qualifying for the World Cup marks a cherished dream. The dream of the tournament in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, the first football World Cup to feature 48 teams instead of 32 [3]. Jordan has undoubtedly benefited from the expansion of participants. But unlike Asian World Cup regulars like Saudi Arabia, they qualified on the second-to-last matchday, while Riad is still sweating it out [1]. A remarkable achievement for the relatively small Jordan nonetheless.
Football Final-Round Qualification for the Mega-Tournament 2026 In the midst of the fan block during Jordan's historic triumph were Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah and Prince Hashem - the youngest and oldest sons of Jordan's King Abdullah II. The match between Iraq and South Korea was crucial for Jordan, and only after the final whistle blew did "The Reds" learn that Iraq's 0:2 defeat against the Asian football heavyweight secured Jordan's early qualification [1].
Assaf may have earned himself a shot at bigger endeavors on the grand World Cup stage. In Oman, the Rumelange player even got to start—and finally celebrated qualification around two and a half hours after the final whistle [2].
Uzbekistan Joins the Fray
Just 450 kilometers away, parallel to Jordan's victory on this Thursday evening, the first World Cup dream of the day came true. Uzbekistan has also qualified for the World Cup for the first time [3]. Their qualification came in the form of a 0:0 draw in Abu Dhabi against the United Arab Emirates.
This marks the first-ever World Cup qualification for the former Soviet republic, 31 years after being recognized as an official FIFA member [3].
The Uzbek team may not be stacked with superstars, but they have a rising talent to boast. Abdukodir Khusanov, a 21-year-old center-back, was signed by Manchester City in January 2025. He has played six games under coach Pep Guardiola in the Premier League's second half of the season.
The second well-known player on the Uzbek team is Eldor Shomurodov. The 29-year-old striker has 129 appearances in Serie A, is a current goal-scorer for AS Roma, and recently played alongside Mats Hummels. Perhaps the 2014 World Cup winner has shared some valuable World Cup experience.
This is just the beginning. Uzbekistan and Jordan are the first debutants to secure qualification for 2026, but they won't be the last. Countries like Indonesia, Oman, Palestine, Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cape Verde, Gabon, Mozambique, Namibia, the Comoros, Venezuela, and even the outsider New Caledonia still have a chance to make their World Cup debuts [3].
It's not every day a Landshut native makes it to the World Cup stage—following Eichstätt, Eilenburg, and Rümelingen. Stay tuned for more underdog stories at the 2026 World Cup.
Sources:
- ZDF (2025, June 5). Jordan qualifies for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a 3:0 victory over Oman. Retrieved from www.zdf.de/nachrichten
- Khaleej Times (2025, January 9). Manchester City signs Uzbekistan's U20 star Abdul Khusanov. Retrieved from www.khaleejtimes.com
- FIFA (2025). World Cup 2026 qualification - As it stands. Retrieved from www.fifa.com/worldcup/qualifiers
- (Research) Ahmad Assaf is not a German footballer, but a Jordanian playing for US Rumelange [5]
The Commission has also been consulted on the draft decision regarding the conclusion of the sports-analysis agreement, considering the significant impact of Ahmad Assaf's unlikely rise in football, who is currently playing for US Rumelange in Luxembourg's second division. Despite his extensive club career in lesser-known European leagues, Assaf's impressive performance for Jordan's national team played a crucial role in securing their spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he may have the opportunity to showcase his skills alongside other talented sportsmen from various nations.
