Ammon News - Jordan’s Olympic national football team (U-23) is following in the footsteps of the senior national team in pursuing achievements on multiple fronts, fueling local hopes of another milestone for Jordanian football at the AFC U-23 Asian Cup.

On Monday evening, the Olympic team secured qualification to the quarterfinals of the AFC U-23 Asian Cup, currently being held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, despite a challenging group that included Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, and Kyrgyzstan.

Jordan advanced as runners-up behind Vietnam, who also qualified, while host Saudi Arabia exited in what was seen as a surprise after finishing third in the group.

The hard-fought and deserved qualification has fueled hopes among local fans that the Olympic team can replicate the achievements of the senior team, which recorded three milestones over two years, including finishing as runners-up at the AFC Asian Cup 2023, a historic qualification for the FIFA World Cup, and finishing as runners-up at the Arab Cup 2025.

Local observers say the Olympic squad includes standout players with the experience and capacity to excel, particularly as most of them are regular starters with their clubs, strengthening the team’s prospects of delivering strong performances.

Specialists and followers told the Jordan News Agency (Petra) that Jordan’s back-to-back wins over Saudi Arabia and Kyrgyzstan, after stumbling in the opening match against Vietnam in the current U-23 Asian Cup, underscore the team’s strength and ability to compete at a high level, despite a difficult next test against Japan in the quarterfinals next Friday.

Head coach Ahmad Hayil said the team’s quarterfinal qualification, despite the group’s difficulty, confirms the squad has distinguished elements capable of achieving accomplishments and continuing on the path of the successful senior national team.

Coach Khaled Yousef said the quarterfinal qualification has raised Jordanian fans’ expectations, noting that supporters are now looking for further achievements and expressing hope the team can progress deeper in the Asian tournament.

Supporter Maher Mousa said the Olympic team carries Jordanians’ hopes in the Asian Cup, renewing his confidence in the players’ ability to excel given their solid experience and strong technical capabilities. He added that the team can win the title if it overcomes what he described as the most difficult hurdle in its campaign against Japan on Friday.

Jordan’s sports community has become closely engaged in following the Olympic team’s matches in the Asian tournament, reflecting rising public confidence in the national teams. Petra