With great joy and warm reception, Jordanians welcomed their national football team at Amman International Stadium on Monday after their historic achievement of reaching the AFC Asian Cup final for the first time. Jordan finished as runners-up, losing 3-1 to the host nation Qatar in the final held at Lusail Stadium on Saturday. Thousands of Jordanians gathered to celebrate, welcoming the "Nashama" players during an event that ended with a fireworks display. Jordanian Jihad Mohammed Said told Reuters, "We are proud of this achievement; it is certainly a big accomplishment, something to hold our heads high for. Hopefully, this will lead to a football renaissance after this achievement, and we are a golden generation hoping to qualify for the World Cup."
Qatari player Akram Afif proved his prowess as one of the best strikers in Asia by scoring three goals in the AFC Asian Cup final, leading his country to consecutive continental titles. Afif scored three penalty kicks in the 3-1 victory over Jordan and received three individual awards, being named the best player of the match, the tournament's best player, and the tournament's top scorer with eight goals.
Jordan played in its first-ever Asian Cup final in search of its first major title, but Qatar emerged victorious in front of an audience of 86,492, including the Emir of the state, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Qatar was crowned continental champions for the second consecutive time after winning the previous edition in 2019 held in the UAE, where they also defeated Japan by the same score in the final in Abu Dhabi. Qatar became the fifth team to retain the Asian title after Japan in 2000 and 2004, Saudi Arabia in 1984 and 1988, Iran in 1972 and 1976, and South Korea in 1956 and 1960.
