Iraq's World Cup hero detained for 7 hours in US; photographer expelled

Iraq's dream of reaching its first World Cup in four decades began with an unexpected hiccup on U.S. soil. Aymen Hussein, the star player who scored the goal that secured their qualification, was detained for seven hours at Chicago's airport. The team's official photographer was denied entry and had to return to Baghdad.

The "Lions of Mesopotamia" delegation arrived in the United States on Friday for final preparations before their debut. The team had recently held a training camp in Spain, where they drew 1-1 against the Spanish team in a friendly match that fueled expectations for a competitive tournament appearance.

However, their arrival in Chicago was far from smooth. According to Iraqi and European media reports, Hussein was separated from the rest of the delegation and subjected to a lengthy interrogation by immigration authorities. He remained detained for nearly seven hours before being allowed to enter the country and rejoin his teammates.

Iraqi media reports suggest the issue stemmed from an administrative mix-up, possibly due to his name matching another citizen's. While Hussein was eventually allowed to proceed, the incident caused concern within the delegation due to his importance to the squad. Hussein is a key figure for Iraqi football, having scored the decisive goal for the 2026 World Cup qualification, symbolizing a nation's return to the global stage after 40 years marked by war and hardship.

The most serious incident involved the team's official photographer, Talal Salah. Iraqi media reported he was interrogated for about 12 hours and ultimately denied entry, forcing his immediate return to Baghdad. This left the team's social media platforms in the U.S. without a professional to document their activities during the World Cup.

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The players are losing about 3 million dollars monthly. We can do something to maintain those jobs and prevent the economic impact from reaching the most vulnerable, who are the producers. We also want to increase the consumption of national pork through a campaign that the guilds are promoting.