AMMAN — The Jordan Football Association (JFA) on Friday announced that national team striker Yazan Naimat has suffered a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his knee during Jordan’s quarter-final match against Iraq at the 2025 Arab Cup in Qatar.

 

In a statement published on its social media platforms, the JFA said that medical examinations and diagnostic imaging conducted after the match confirmed the severity of the injury.

 

Naimat sustained the injury early in the quarter-final encounter and was forced to leave the pitch, with Odeh Fakhoury coming on as his replacement. Despite the setback, Jordan went on to secure a 1–0 victory over Iraq, booking a place in the semi-finals of the Arab Cup.

 

Orthopaedic reconstruction and joint surgery consultant Bassam Harahsheh told Al Rai newspaper that Naimat’s injury requires surgical intervention within no more than 48 hours.

 

He explained that the procedure would be followed by a phased rehabilitation programme, with full recovery typically taking between six and 12 months depending on the success of the surgery and the quality of rehabilitation.

 

Harahsheh added that there remains a possibility the striker could rejoin the national team in time for the World Cup, subject to his response to treatment and physical readiness.

 

Following the match, head coach Jamal Sellami said to the press that the win “came without real joy” due to Naimat’s injury, highlighting the player’s importance to the team both on and off the field.

 

The Jordanian players dedicated their victory and qualification for the semi-finals to Naimat, while messages of support and wishes for a speedy recovery poured in from fans across social media platforms, many expressing hope that the striker will recover in time to rejoin the Nashama ahead of the upcoming World Cup campaign.

 

HRH Prince Ali, President of the JFA, and Prime Minister Jafar Hassan also wished Naimat a swift recovery and a strong return to action in messages posted on X.