Losing Smeeri would matter even without the wider injury picture. Full-backs carry a heavy workload at tournament level: they defend wide spaces, help the press and provide an outlet when a team is under pressure. Remove an established option there, and a coach is forced into compromise.
For a side preparing for its biggest stage yet, disruption this late in the cycle can be costly. Defensive partnerships rely on repetition, and serious injuries break rhythm as much as they thin the squad.
The latest update also says Yazan Al-Naimat and Adham Al-Quraishi were already unavailable after ACL injuries suffered during the Arab Cup.
That matters because tournament football punishes lack of depth. Coaches can cover one absence with structure. Multiple long-term injuries force changes in shape, personnel and game plan.
Reports also say Jordan face Algeria, Austria and defending champions Argentina in Group J. If so, there is little margin for a slow start. Against stronger, deeper opponents, defensive organisation and transition discipline become even more important.
Jordan can still turn the moment into a rallying point. Debutants often thrive on collective energy and clarity of role, even when star names are missing. But the margin for error looks slimmer now.
The next storyline to watch is whether Jordan lean on experience to steady the back line or use this setback to accelerate a tactical reshuffle before 11 June.