World Cup: Iraqi player is confused and interrogated for 7 hours in the USA
Security at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago detained and interrogated the Iraqi national team player for seven hours after the Mesopotamian Lions arrived in the United States to compete in the 2026 World Cup.
According to the Shafaq news agency, leaders of the Iraqi delegation made several attempts to obtain the athlete's release, but were initially unsuccessful.
Aymen Hussein was eventually released several hours later. Apparently, the airport security team mistook the 30-year-old player for another Iraqi citizen.
This is not the first time that a similar episode has occurred during the World Cup. It is worth remembering that Breel Embolo, a Swiss striker, was prevented from traveling with the team to the United States after being denied entry into the country. The situation, however, was later resolved.
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Aymen Hussein celebrates Iraq's World Cup qualification goal - Hector Vivas - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
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Iraq celebrates their World Cup qualification goal - Rodrigo Oropeza/Getty Images
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Aymen Hussein celebrates Iraq's World Cup qualification goal - Hector Vivas - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
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Moises Paniagua celebrates Bolivia's equalizer - Hector Vivas - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
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Bolivia celebrates the goal scored by Moises Paniagua - Rodrigo Oropeza/Getty Images
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Ali Al-Hamadi celebrates the goal that opened Iraq's victory - Hector Vivas - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
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Ali Al-Hamadi celebrates the goal that opened Iraq's victory - Hector Vivas - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
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Ali Al-Hamadi celebrates the goal that opened Iraq's victory - Hector Vivas - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
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Guillermo Viscarra made a beautiful save from a free kick, but the corner resulted in the goal that opened Iraq's classification - Hector Vivas - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
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Iraq and Bolivia profiled before the final of the second intercontinental playoff - Hector Vivas - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
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Bolivia profiled before the defeat to Iraq - Hector Vivas - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
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Iraq profiled before the victory over Bolivia - Hector Vivas - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
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Iraq returns to compete in the World Cup finals for the first time in four decades. The team is part of Group I, alongside France, Senegal and Norway.
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Source: CNN