One of Iraq's star footballers, Aymen Hussein, was detained and questioned for nearly seven hours upon arriving at Chicago airport with the Iraqi squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The incident has reportedly sparked concern in Iraq, with a football publication alleging that Hussein was treated 'like a suspect' during the screening process.
A key figure for Iraq, Hussein scored the decisive goal that secured the nation's qualification for the World Cup finals.
US authorities inspected Hussein's phone during the questioning, and national team photographer Talal Salah was detained for more than 10 hours and ultimately denied entry into the United States.
The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency confirmed that two members of the Iraqi delegation were subjected to additional screening after the team's arrival in Chicago on Friday.
