The Jordan Times

AMMAN — Despite being located in the middle of a turbulent region, Jordan continues to pay attention to football and utilise its humanitarian role, FIFA President Sepp Blatter said on Saturday.

Speaking at a joint press conference with FIFA Vice President and Jordan Football Association (JFA) President HRH Prince Ali, Blatter said he has been following Jordanian football since the time His Majesty King Abdullah headed the JFA, noting that it has come a long way, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The FIFA president, who is in the Kingdom as part of a tour of the region, commended Prince Ali’s efforts to advance Jordanian football, noting that Jordan is two steps away from reaching the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

As third-place finishers in both Asian qualifying groups playing in a two-leg play-off, Jordan will meet Uzbekistan, on September 6 and 10.

The winner will then play the fifth-placed side in South America in an intercontinental home-and-away play-off on November 15 and 19, according to the world football governing body, FIFA.

Prince Ali thanked Blatter for his support for Jordanian football, noting that years of hard work have led the national team to this stage.

Earlier on Saturday, Prince Ali and Blatter visited the Zaatari Refugee Camp near Mafraq and inaugurated the Turrah Stadium. In Amman, they inaugurated a polo stadium within Al Hussein Youth City and met with members of the JFA.

At the press conference, Blatter announced FIFA’s plans to hold a women’s football championship in Jordan soon.