From killing the father of al-Qaeda to scoring in the World Cup – a fantastic meeting with the Iraqi captain
When Aymen Hussein curled a towering header past the Norway goalkeeper in Iraq’s 2026 FIFA World Cup 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 vanished.
Iraq eventually fell to Norway 4-1 in Foxborough, Mass. but for a brief moment on the world’s biggest football stage, their captain gave hope to a conflict-scarred nation. Ten minutes after Erling Haaland had fired Norway ahead, Hussein rose above the defense to meet an accurate cross from Al Ammari and thunder a header into the bottom right corner. Iraq were on par and their inspirational leader delivered once again.
However, for Hussain, winning the World Cup was in itself.
Hussein was born in Al Safra in the Iraqi district of Al-Hawija and grew up surrounded by war. Shooting, 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 buying building materials for the family home he was building. The house was never completed.
Years later, Hussein revealed that his initial ambition was not to be a football star.
“I loved football,” he told FIFA, “but my old dream was to get enough money to finish building the house my father started building.”
The grief didn’t end there.
Fearing 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, returning from a training camp in Trkiye, he received devastating news: his brother had disappeared after being kidnapped while ISIS controlled parts of the region.
The loss crushed him. Hussein seriously considered quitting football altogether.
It was his mother who refused to allow it. Aymen Hussein scores against Norway (Photo Reuters)
She convinced him to pursue his dream, a decision that would ultimately change his life. Hussein’s talent soon earned him contracts with some of Iraq’s biggest clubs. What started with a modest salary and transfer fee of 18 million Iraqi dinars has developed into a career that has made him one of the country’s most successful footballers and arguably Iraq’s most valuable player.
His rise eventually culminated in historic success: helping Iraq qualify for their first FIFA World Cup in 40 years.
Yet even after reaching the sport’s biggest stage, challenges dogged him.
Upon arriving in the United States for the tournament, Hussein was detained by immigration officials at O’Hare Airport in Chicago for seven hours while his phone was checked before he was allowed to enter the country.
A few days later, he returned to what he had done throughout his career – overcoming adversity.
Against Norway on American soil, Hussein once again carried the hopes of millions. The result may not have gone Iraq’s way, but his equalizer served as a reminder of the extraordinary journey that got him there.
Aymen Hussein’s story is one of perseverance against impossible odds, from losing his father, terrorism and seeing his family torn apart by conflict to leading Iraq back to the World Cup and scoring on football’s biggest stage.
He is more than just a captain for Iraq. It is a symbol of resilience.
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Published on:
17 Jun 2026 07:42 IST