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Ammon News - JT- The advanced stage the national football team has reached in the World Cup qualifiers has done more to promote the Kingdom’s attractions than marketing campaigns over the years, according to sports analysts.

The attention of all Jordanians will be focused on Amman International Stadium on November 13, when the team plays Uruguay for a place at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

The team's progress to this advanced stage has played an important role in promoting Jordan and its attractions through the international media, Jordanian football analyst Izzat Hamzah said on Tuesday.

"After the national team beat Uzbekistan, media outlets in the world began publishing stories about the main tourist destinations in Jordan such as Jerash and Petra," he told The Jordan Times over the phone.

Mufeed Hassouneh, the head of the Jordan Football Association’s (JFA) media centre, said Jordan is among the top search keywords used on Google.

"Many people are interested in learning more about the Kingdom and its traditions because of this important game," he told The Jordan Times in a recent interview at the JFA headquarters in Amman.

JFA Vice President Salah Sabra said the role the national team has played in promoting the country, particularly in the tourism sector, has been more effective than campaigns led by the government over the years.

"Around 400 Japanese reporters came to the Kingdom when Jordan hosted Japan during the World Cup qualifiers. Imagine how many stories journalists have written about the country," he noted.

"The Ministry of Tourism cannot invite this number of reporters for a press conference to promote Jordan," Sabra added.

Hamzah said Uruguay is one of the toughest teams in the world, noting they were semi-finalists in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

"A renowned team, which has won more than 18 international titles, will play in Amman. The players are worth 206 million euros. These facts will contribute to drawing world attention to the Kingdom next week," he noted, adding that this game will also promote local football talents globally.

According to Sabra, several Arab football fans are also expected to visit the Kingdom to watch the game live.

He stressed that the success achieved by the national team in reaching this stage and hosting this important global game in Jordan also illustrates the Kingdom's security and stability.

Issa Turk, a Jordanian coach, said next Wednesday's game will grab the attention of international media outlets, which will prepare several analytical reports about the match.

"These reports will contribute to shift the attention of the entire world to Amman next Wednesday," he added.

Noting that several Uruguayan players are members of European clubs, Hassouneh said this would attract European media outlets to report on the match.

He also said that around 1,000 supporters of the Uruguayan team are coming to watch the game.

"These fans will definitely... visit other sites in the Kingdom."