Iraq's World Cup striker Aymen Hussein was detained and questioned for nearly seven hours at Chicago O'Hare International Airport upon arrival with the national squad early Saturday morning, according to an Iraqi sporting official.
While Hussein was eventually permitted entry into the United States, the team's official photographer, Talal Salah, was denied entry after undergoing similar questioning and phone checks for over ten hours. The official, who has close ties to the team and works for the Iraqi Olympic Committee, confirmed these details.
Aymen Hussein is a pivotal player for the Iraqi team, having scored the decisive goal that secured their qualification for the World Cup finals. The Iraqi Football Association and Hussein himself have not yet issued any comments regarding the incident. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security have not immediately responded to requests for comment.
The Iraqi squad arrived in the U.S. less than a week before the tournament's commencement. Social media videos showed fans greeting the team at the airport in the early morning hours, holding flags and requesting autographs and photographs from the players.
Iraq is set to make its return to the World Cup after a 40-year absence. Hussein, aged 30, leads a formidable attacking lineup that includes Ipswich Town's Ali Al-Hamadi and promising young talents Ali Jassim and Youssef Amyn. The team has been drawn into Group I alongside France, Senegal, and Norway. The World Cup, co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, is scheduled to begin on Thursday.
