Alexander Zwiers: The Dutch architect of Jordan's debut at the World Cup

Jordan, which will play at the World Cup for the first time this year, has emerged from anonymity onto the world soccer stage over the past five years. A key figure in this transformation was Alexander Zwiers, a 50-year-old Dutchman from Friesland, who served as technical director in Jordan from 2019 to 2025.  During a meeting at a hotel near Schiphol Airport, Zwiers talks about his work. After leaving Jordan in 2025, Zwiers took over as technical director in Indonesia just after Jordan qualified for the World Cup. His new role is fraught with challenges, and he has spent the last few weeks resolving issues relating to the eligibility of the 'Dutch Indonesians' to play. Zwiers, although little known in his country, significantly contributed to the increase in the level of football in Jordan. His experience and ideas helped the Jordanian team achieve a historic success - its debut at the World Championships. He emphasizes that although his name may not be known in the Netherlands, the work he has done brings tangible results in the international arena.