Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein of Jordan
Who was Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein of Jordan?
Jordanian prince and former FIFA vice president who ran unsuccessfully for FIFA president in 2015 and founded the West Asian Football Federation.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein of Jordan (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein was born on December 23, 1975, in Amman, Jordan. He is the third son of King Hussein of Jordan and the second child with his third wife, Queen Alia. Being part of the Hashemite family, which has ruled Jordan since 1921, Prince Ali was raised in one of the Arab world's most well-known royal families, linked to the Islamic prophet Muhammad. He is a half-brother to the current king, King Abdullah II.
Prince Ali was educated in several prestigious institutions. He went to Salisbury School in Connecticut and later studied at Princeton University in the U.S. He also completed military training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the UK, which has a history of training royals and military officers globally.
Prince Ali's main public role has been in international football governance. He founded the West Asian Football Federation, uniting football associations from across West Asia. He later became a FIFA vice president, giving him a key role in the global football organization. In September 2015, after FIFA president Sepp Blatter resigned amid a big corruption scandal, Prince Ali ran for FIFA president. He promoted himself as a candidate focused on reform, but he didn't win the election.
Outside of football, Prince Ali has received recognition from various countries for his diplomatic and public service. He holds awards like the Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order from the UK, the Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic from Spain, the Knight of the Legion of Honour from France, and the Order of the Rising Sun from Japan, among others. In Jordan, he has been honored with the Order of al-Hussein bin Ali, the Supreme Order of the Renaissance, and the Order of the Star of Jordan. He also has the Grand Cross of Honor for Services to the Republic of Austria, the Order of the Dannebrog from Denmark, and the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit.
Prince Ali is married to Princess Rym Ali bin Al-Hussein of Jordan. He is known beyond royal and sports circles for advocating for football development in the Middle East and pushing for reform in global football administration, gaining consistent international attention.
Before Fame
Prince Ali grew up in the Hashemite royal court in Amman during the 1980s and 1990s. This was a time of regional upheaval, including the Gulf War and ongoing Israeli-Palestinian talks, where his father, King Hussein, was an active diplomat. This environment made him aware of international affairs and diplomacy from a young age.
He was educated at top schools in the United States and United Kingdom, and he completed military training at Sandhurst, which gave him both a strong academic background and a disciplined approach to leadership. His passion for football as a means of promoting regional unity and development led him to start the West Asian Football Federation. This became his stepping stone into high-level FIFA governance.
Key Achievements
- Founded the West Asian Football Federation, establishing a regional governing structure for football across West Asia.
- Served as FIFA vice president, reaching the highest levels of world football administration.
- Ran as a candidate for FIFA president in 2015, advocating for reform following the Blatter-era corruption revelations.
- Received honors and decorations from more than eight countries, including France's Legion of Honour and the UK's Royal Victorian Order.
- Represented Jordan on a wide range of international diplomatic and sporting platforms as a senior member of the Hashemite royal family.
Did You Know?
- 01.Prince Ali ran for the FIFA presidency in 2015 following Sepp Blatter's resignation amid one of the largest corruption scandals in sports governing history.
- 02.He founded the West Asian Football Federation, which serves as the regional governing body for football across countries including Jordan, Iraq, Iran, and several others in the West Asian region.
- 03.Prince Ali holds decorations from at least eight different countries, spanning Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, reflecting his broad diplomatic engagements.
- 04.He attended Princeton University, one of the United States' most selective academic institutions, before completing military officer training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in England.
- 05.Prince Ali is the son of Queen Alia, after whom Queen Alia International Airport in Amman is named, following her death in a helicopter crash in 1977.
Family & Personal Life
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order | — | — |
| Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic | — | — |
| Knight of the Legion of Honour | — | — |
| Order of al-Hussein bin Ali | — | — |
| Supreme Order of the Renaissance | — | — |
| Order of the Star of Jordan | — | — |
| Order of the Rising Sun | — | — |
| Grand Cross of Honor for Services to the Republic of Austria | — | — |
| Order of the Dannebrog | — | — |
| Royal Norwegian Order of Merit | — | — |
| Royal Order of the Polar Star | 1975 | — |
| Order of Isabella the Catholic | — | — |
| Order of Jerusalem | 2019 | — |