Aymen Hussein, Iraq’s striker for the World Cup, was detained and interrogated for almost seven hours at Chicago’s O’Hare airport after arriving with his team early Saturday morning, according to an official from the Iraqi sports community.
While Hussein was eventually permitted entry into the United States, the team’s photographer was denied access, as reported by an official affiliated with the Iraqi Olympic Committee who has close ties to the squad.
There has been no immediate response from the Iraqi Football Association regarding the incident, nor from Hussein himself, a key player who scored the pivotal goal that led Iraq to qualify for the tournament.
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security have not yet responded to inquiries about the questioning, which has also been reported in Iraqi news outlets.
Early in the morning, fans gathered at the airport to welcome the Iraqi team, waving flags and asking players for photographs, just days before the tournament kicks off, as shown in videos circulating on social media.
According to the Iraqi official, Hussein’s phone was examined upon his arrival.
“The national team’s photographer, Talal Salah, was held for over 10 hours, faced similar phone inspections, and was ultimately refused entry into the United States,” the official stated.
This marks Iraq’s return to the World Cup for the first time in four decades since their debut.
Hussein, 30, spearheads a formidable attack that includes Ipswich Town’s Ali Al-Hamadi as well as promising talents Ali Jassim and Youssef Amyn.
In Group I, Iraq will go up against France, Senegal, and Norway.
The tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is set to begin on Thursday.
