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

Hussein grew up in an Iraq the place soccer supplied moments of unity amid turmoil.

The nationwide workforce’s 2007 Asian Cup triumph towards the percentages sparked celebrations throughout the nation.

The Iraqi gamers had been semi-professionals who had been compelled to arrange for the event in Jordan due to a safety disaster at residence that was claiming tens of 1000’s of lives yearly.

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

The younger Hussein additionally endured personal tragedy.

He was 12 years previous, in 2008, when his father – a soldier within the Iraqi military – was shot lifeless by al-Qaeda whereas out shopping for supplies for the development of their residence.

Further tragedy struck a couple of years later when his older brother was kidnapped throughout a interval 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 mentioned in an interview.

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

Although the trail to it has been something however easy 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 within the United States earlier this month.

He was finally allowed in – not like Iraq’s workforce photographer Talal Salah.

When Hussein rose to move previous Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland, it was a proud second.