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Aymen Hussein, the star striker for the Iraqi national football team, was detained and questioned for approximately seven hours at Chicago O'Hare International Airport after arriving in the United States for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Phone Inspection and Photographer Denied Entry

The incident, reported by an Iraqi sports official to Reuters, involved a thorough inspection of Hussein's phone. While the player, who plays for Qatar's Al-Khor club, was eventually allowed to enter the U.S., the team's photographer, Talal Salah, was not as fortunate.

Salah was reportedly held for over ten hours, had his phone examined, and was ultimately denied entry into the country. This situation arose as the Iraqi team arrived to prepare for the crucial World Cup qualifying matches.

Historic World Cup Bid

Hussein is a pivotal player for Iraq, having recently scored the winning goal against Bolivia in the World Cup play-off, securing their spot in the tournament. This marks only the second time in history that Iraq has qualified for the World Cup, with their previous appearance dating back to 1986.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to be held across the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19. Iraq has been drawn into Group I alongside formidable opponents France, Senegal, and Norway.

Neither Aymen Hussein nor the Iraqi Football Federation has commented on the airport incident.

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