Italy repechage to World Cup: player questioned 7 hours, ICE raids border

Not just Iran: Iraq’s arrival in the United States ahead of the 2026 World Cup has also been more turbulent than ever. According to reports in the Guardian, one of the team’s stars, striker Aymen Hussein, was stopped by border police at the airport in Chicago and subjected to a very lengthy interrogation.

Aymen Hussein was separated from the Iraqi selection, which landed in Chicago on Saturday morning, and was detained for a full seven hours in an airport room to be subjected to a series of questions. Aymen Hussein, who scored the decisive goal against Bolivia in the world play-off, is a symbol of the team: his father died in 2008 fighting against Al Qaeda, while his brother was killed by Isis years later.

Hussein was eventually allowed in, but the team’s photographer, Talal Salah, was instead prevented from entering the United States: an official who works for the Iraqi Olympic Committee and has close contacts with the team said this. No immediate comment on the incident came from the Iraqi Football Federation or Hussein. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security also did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the interrogation, Iraqi media report. Iraq is placed in a very challenging group with France, Senegal, and Norway.

In the meantime, encouraging news is arriving on the Iran front: the Tehran selection has left for Mexico, where they will stay in Tijuana. Visas for the United States have all reportedly arrived, according to a White House official.