From Al Qaeda killing his father to scoring at World Cup, meet Iraq's captain fantastic
When Aymen Hussein powered a towering header past Norway's goalkeeper in Iraq’s FIFA World Cup 2026 opener, it was more than just a goal. It
When Aymen Hussein powered a towering header past Norway's goalkeeper in Iraq’s FIFA World Cup 2026 opener, it was more than just a goal. It was the latest chapter in a story defined by tragedy, resilience and an unwavering belief in a dream that almost slipped away. Iraq eventually fell 4-1 to Norway in Foxborough, Massachusetts, but for a brief moment on the world's biggest football stage, their captain gave a conflict-scarred nation hope. Ten minutes after Erling Haaland had fired Norway ahead, Hussein rose above the defence to meet a pinpoint cross from Al Ammari and thunder a header into the bottom-right corner. Iraq were level, and their inspirational leader had delivered once again. Read Full Story For Hussein, however, reaching the World Cup was a victory in itself. Born in Al Safra in Iraq's Al-Hawija district, Hussein grew up surrounded by war.
Gunfire, explosions and uncertainty formed the backdrop of his childhood. Football became his escape, but tragedy struck when he was just 12 years old. His father, a soldier in the Iraqi army, was murdered by Al Qaeda while purchasing building materials for the family home he was constructing. The house was never completed. Years later, Hussein revealed that his earliest ambition was not football stardom. "I loved football," he told FIFA, "but my old dream was to get enough money to complete the construction of the house my father had begun to construct." The heartbreak did not end there. Concerned for his family's safety, Hussein urged his mother and older brother, who had also joined the army, to leave the area. They refused. Then, while returning from a training camp in Trkiye, he received devastating news: his brother had disappeared after being kidnapped during the period when ISIS controlled parts of the region.
The loss shattered him. Hussein seriously considered abandoning football altogether. It was his mother who refused to let that happen. Aymen Hussein scores against Norway (Photo Reuters) She convinced him to keep chasing his dream, a decision that would ultimately transform his life. Hussein's talent soon earned him contracts with some of Iraq's biggest clubs. What began with a modest salary and an 18-million Iraqi dinar transfer fee developed into a career that made him one of the country's most successful footballers and reportedly Iraq's most valuable player. His rise eventually culminated in a historic achievement: helping Iraq qualify for their first FIFA World Cup in 40 years. Yet even after reaching the sport's grandest stage, challenges followed him. Upon arriving in the United States for the tournament, Hussein was detained by immigration officials at Chicago's O'Hare Airport for seven hours while his phone was inspected before he was cleared to enter the country.
The BriefWire