Iraq's Aymen Hussein: From tragedy to World Cup history

Iraq striker Aymen Hussein made history on Friday by scoring just the second World Cup goal in his country's history, despite a 4-1 defeat to Norway in their Group I opener. The 30-year-old's superb header in the 39th minute canceled out Erling Haaland's opener, giving Iraqi fans a moment to cherish on the nation's return to the tournament after a 40-year absence.

A goal tinged with mixed emotions

Hussein's goal, a powerful header from a cross, briefly leveled the score and silenced the Norwegian fans. However, Norway regained the lead before halftime and added two more goals in the second half. Hussein later scored an own goal, but his overall performance drew praise from coach Graham Arnold. "He's that type of player who is very difficult to control in the box and I'm very happy and proud of him," Arnold said.

A journey marked by tragedy

Hussein's path to the World Cup has been anything but smooth. Growing up in Iraq during a period of intense violence, he experienced personal tragedy at a young age. In 2008, when he was 12, his father—a soldier in the Iraqi army—was shot dead by al-Qaeda while buying materials for their home. A few years later, his older brother was kidnapped during unrest and has not been seen since. Hussein considered quitting football to support his family, but his mother urged him to continue pursuing his dream.

Football has long been a source of unity in Iraq amid turmoil. The national team's 2007 Asian Cup triumph, achieved by semi-professionals who prepared in Jordan due to security concerns, sparked celebrations across the country. That victory was marred by a suicide-bomb attack on celebrating fans in Baghdad that killed dozens.

Disrupted build-up to the World Cup

Hussein's preparation for the tournament 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 entry, unlike Iraq's team photographer Talal Salah, who was denied entry.

Consistent performer for Iraq

Since 2023, Hussein has been a consistent performer for the Lions of Mesopotamia, known for his aerial dominance and sharp shooting inside the box. He was Iraq's standout player during their World Cup qualification campaign, scoring 12 goals—more than double any teammate—as they reached the tournament via the inter-confederation play-offs. He scored the decisive goal in a 2-1 victory over Bolivia in March that secured Iraq's World Cup berth.

Despite a season where he struggled for minutes at his club Al-Karma, Hussein answered doubters with a resilient display against Norway. "He has had quite a few injuries during the season and for him to get through 90 minutes with that energy and scoring a goal was fantastic," Arnold said.

If Hussein can maintain that level, Iraq may yet believe they can progress from a challenging Group I that also includes 2022 runners-up France and Senegal.