World Cup 2026: Aymen Hussein creates history for Iraq after overcoming personal losses

Hussein grew up in an Iraq where football offered moments of unity amid turmoil.

The national team’s 2007 Asian Cup triumph against the odds sparked celebrations across the country.

The Iraqi players were semi-professionals who were forced to prepare for the tournament in Jordan because of a security crisis at home that was claiming tens of thousands of lives every year.

Their shock semi-final victory over South Korea was marred by a suicide-bomb attack on celebrating supporters in Baghdad which killed dozens.

The young Hussein also endured personal tragedy.

He was 12 years old, in 2008, when his father – a soldier in the Iraqi army – was shot dead by al-Qaeda while out buying materials for the construction of their home.

Further tragedy struck a few years later when his older brother was kidnapped during a period of unrest and has not been seen since.

“I decided to quit playing football to take care of my family, but my mother refused,” Hussein said in an interview.

Instead, she urged Hussein to pursue his dream – one that has seen him guide Iraq to their first World Cup since 1986.

Though the path to it has been anything but smooth for the 30-year-old.

Hussein’s build-up to the World Cup was disrupted when he was detained and questioned for about seven hours at Chicago’s O’Hare airport upon arriving in the United States earlier this month.

He was eventually allowed in – unlike Iraq’s team photographer Talal Salah.

When Hussein rose to head past Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland, it was a proud moment.