Iraq's return to the FIFA World Cup after a 40-year absence has been one of the most remarkable stories of the 2026 tournament, and at the heart of that journey stands Aymen Hussein.
The prolific striker has become a national icon in Iraq, and he found the net at the grandest stage for his nation, scoring the first goal in 40 years for Iraq in the World Cup.
Aymen Hussein played crucial role for Iraq
Hussein played a pivotal role in Iraq's qualification campaign, scoring 6 goals in the qualifiers as the Lions of Mesopotamia secured their place at the World Cup for the first time since 1986. His winning strike against Bolivia in the interconfederation playoff earned Iraq a spot in the World Cup.
And in Iraq's World Cup 2026 opener against Norway, Hussein found his moment as he scored a towering
header to score a goal, and level the score. Erling Haaland gave Norwegians the lead but Hussein's header paved the way back for Iraq. Despite the high moment, Iraq have found themselves behind after a defensive howler and trail 1-2 at half time.
Aymen Hussein was detained in USA
The 30-year-old Aymen Hussein found himself making headlines even before Iraq kicked a ball at the World Cup. Upon arriving in the United States with the Iraqi national team, Hussein was detained and questioned by immigration authorities at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. The striker was held for nearly seven hours before eventually being cleared to enter the country and join his teammates.
The incident sparked significant attention across the football world, particularly given Hussein's importance to Iraq's World Cup hopes. Reports suggested that members of the Iraqi delegation faced additional scrutiny, while the team's photographer was ultimately denied entry to the United States after a lengthy interrogation.
Despite the disruption, Hussein remained focused on Iraq's historic World Cup campaign. His journey to the global stage is itself a testament to resilience. Growing up in a country affected by years of conflict, Hussein endured personal tragedy from a young age. His father, an Iraqi Army officer, was killed in an al-Qaeda attack, while one of his brothers was kidnapped by ISIS and has never been found.
Aymen Hussein Career
Aymen Hussein currently plays for Iraqi club Al Karma, having previously played for clubs such as Morocco's Raja Casablanca, Qatar's Al Wakrah and UAE's Al Jazira.
