On March 31, 2026, Aymen Hussein scored the decisive goal in a 2-1 victory over Bolivia, securing Iraq’s place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This historic achievement ends a 40-year absence from the tournament for the football-mad nation.
The 30-year-old striker’s journey was not without significant obstacles. In June 2026, while traveling with the national team to the US-hosted tournament, Hussein was detained for seven hours by authorities at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. He was eventually cleared to join his teammates for the competition starting June 11.
Hussein, now recognized as Iraq’s most expensive domestic player following a record 1.25 billion dinar transfer to Al-Karma in 2025, has become a symbol of national resilience. His qualifying campaign included a crucial winner against Oman in September 2024. For Iraq, this return to the global stage echoes the emotional significance of their 2007 Asian Cup victory, blending sporting success with collective national pride.