The scoreboard showed a 4-1 defeat, but for Aymen Hussein, his 39th-minute header against Norway was a moment of personal triumph against a backdrop of tragedy. The 30-year-old striker cancelled out Erling Haaland’s opener, giving Iraq their second-ever World Cup finals goal on their return to the tournament after 40 years. Though his own goal later offset his strike and Norway ran away with the win, the moment was one to cherish.
“He’s that type of player who is very difficult to control in the box and I’m very happy and proud of him,” said Iraq head coach Graham Arnold.
“Iraq striker Aymen Hussein scored his country's second-ever World Cup goal after enduring his father's murder and brother's kidnapping.”
Hussein’s journey to the World Cup could easily have taken a different turn. He was 12 years old in 2008 when his father – a soldier in the Iraqi army – was shot dead by al-Qaeda while out buying materials for the construction of their home. A few years later, his older brother was kidnapped during a period of unrest and has not been seen since.
“I decided to quit playing football to take care of my family, but my mother refused,” Hussein said in an interview. Instead, she urged him to pursue his dream – one that saw him guide Iraq to their first World Cup since 1986.
But the path was anything but smooth. Earlier this month, Hussein was detained and questioned for about seven hours at Chicago’s O’Hare airport upon arriving in the United States. He was eventually allowed in – unlike Iraq’s team photographer Talal Salah.
Hussein made his international debut for Iraq in 2015. Since 2023, he has been a consistent performer for the Lions of Mesopotamia with his aerial dominance and sharp shooting. His impact against Norway was no surprise to those who have followed his rise.
Hussein grew up in an Iraq where football offered moments of unity amid turmoil. The national team’s 2007 Asian Cup triumph sparked celebrations across the country. The players were semi-professionals forced to prepare in Jordan because of a security crisis at home claiming tens of thousands of lives every year. Their shock semi-final victory over South Korea was marred by a suicide-bomb attack on celebrating supporters in Baghdad which killed dozens.
When Hussein rose to head past Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland, it was a proud moment – a marker of how far he has come from the personal tragedies that shaped him.