I’m proud to represent Jordan in the Sports Illustrated World Cup Cover Project, a global collaboration that brought together artists from around the world to create unique covers celebrating football and culture.
For the Jordan cover, I wanted to connect the country’s ancient history with its modern football dream.
The main idea behind the illustration is that the current generation of Jordanian footballers are carving the FIFA World Cup trophy from stone, just as their Nabataean ancestors once carved Petra into the mountains centuries ago.
In the background, Petra represents Jordan’s deep cultural roots and one of the greatest achievements in the country’s history. In the foreground, the players continue that same spirit of determination, creativity, and ambition — but this time through football and the dream of reaching the World Cup.
Around the scene are small details inspired by everyday Jordanian life, including families, fans, traditional clothing, children playing, and moments of celebration, all reflecting the strong connection between football and national identity in Jordan.
I wanted the illustration to feel both epic and human at the same time, mixing historical symbolism with the energy and passion of football in my own cartoon style.
It was an honor to contribute to such an iconic global project and to represent Jordan alongside artists from all over the world.
For more: https://www.si.com/soccer/story-behind-all-48-sports-illustrated-world-cup-covers-digital-cover