Iraq national team striker Aymen Hussein scored a headed equalizer against Norway in Iraq's opening Group I match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on June 16, registering the country's second-ever World Cup goal following Iraq's return to the tournament after a 40-year absence.
However, just over a week earlier, Hussein faced a lengthy detention upon entering the US, where he was held and questioned by border officials for nearly seven hours. His mobile phone was also inspected before he was allowed to enter the country.
A team photographer accompanying the Iraqi delegation was detained for more than 10 hours and was ultimately denied entry into the US. Citing Iraqi media reports, Spanish newspaper AS said US authorities treated Hussein "as if he were a terrorist."
According to an official from National Olympic Committee of Iraq, the Iraqi national football team arrived at Chicago O'Hare International Airport from Dubai between the evening of June 5 and the early hours of June 6.
During the entry process, Hussein, a key striker and vice-captain of the national team, was detained by officers from the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and questioned for nearly seven hours. His phone was searched before he was cleared to enter the country.
Team photographer Talal Salah was detained for more than 10 hours and also underwent a phone inspection. He was later deemed inadmissible and denied entry into the US.
CBP subsequently issued a statement saying the two travelers had undergone "additional inspection," describing the procedure as a routine measure used to verify information or determine admissibility.
Hussein is regarded as the focal point of Iraq's attack and previously scored a decisive goal in the intercontinental playoff final that helped Iraq qualify for the World Cup finals for the first time in 40 years.
The Iraq Football Association had previously stated that all members of the squad had obtained visas to travel to the US.
As of now, neither the association nor Hussein has issued any further public comment regarding the incident. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security had not immediately commented on the reports.
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