New Delhi: Iraq’s appearance in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, first in 40 years, was marred when Norway thrashed them 4-1 at the US’s Boston Stadium early Wednesday. However, Iraq’s striker Aymen Hussein grabbed much of the headlines for two reasons—scoring the only goal for the West Asian nation and mirroring a story of the turmoil in modern Iraq.
Hussein’s journey is one of the most remarkable stories in international football. From unimaginable tragedies and border delays, the Iraqi striker etched his name into history by scoring the second World Cup goal for his nation. At 30, he is the face of a generation that grew up amid war, insurgency and displacement, before carrying the country back onto football’s biggest stage.
Born in 1996 in the Hawija district of Iraq’s Kirkuk province, Hussein spent his childhood in one of the most violent regions. Violence was the only norm. His father, an army officer, was killed by Al-Qaeda in 2008. Years later, his older brother, who also joined the Iraqi Army, was abducted during the conflict involving ISIS and has never been found.
“We didn’t believe it at first. But then we went to the hospital to find my father’s dead body lying there. It was a disaster to all of us,” he had said.
These two tragedies almost ended his career. But his mother persuaded him to continue playing in honour of his family. The decision to stick to football, however, paid off eventually.
The turning point
Hussein emerged as one of Iraq’s most prolific forwards, developing a reputation as a classic striker capable of scoring with both feet and with his head. After spells with clubs in Iraq, Tunisia, Qatar, the UAE and Morocco, he established himself as one of the leading strikers in Iraqi football. Currently, he plays for Al-Karma and with 34 goals, he is Iraq’s all-time top goalscorer.
His rise, however, was not smooth at all. For years, missed chances and disappointing qualifying campaigns made him a frequent target of criticism. During one international match, Iraq’s coach famously entered the pitch to stop him from taking a penalty. Social media ridicule followed and became common.
In the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, the turning point came in his life. He scored six goals, including a brace against Japan. He followed that with a prolific run during World Cup qualifying, eventually becoming Iraq’s most important attacking player.
On 31 March this year, his defining moment arrived in Monterrey, Mexico. While facing Bolivia in the intercontinental play-off for the final World Cup berth, Hussein scored the winning goal in a 2-1 victory, sending Iraq to its first World Cup since 1986. This exact moment elevated him to a national hero status.
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2026 World Cup hardships
His hardships, however, did not end. After arriving in the US for Iraq’s pre-World Cup camp, Hussein was detained and questioned for nearly seven hours by immigration authorities before being allowed entry. The incident involved a thorough screening and mobile phone inspection before immigration authorities allowed him entry to participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Days later, he was back on the pitch. Against Norway, Hussein scored Iraq’s lone goal. In the 39th minute, he outjumped Norway’s defence to tuck the ball inside the net, briefly levelling the match. At the stoppage time in the second half, he, however, scored an own goal.
For a player whose journey has been shaped by personal tragedy, it was another chapter in a story that has come to symbolise Iraq’s return to football’s grandest stage.