BAGHDAD: Iraq’s World Cup striker Aymen Hussein was held and questioned for nearly seven hours at Chicago’s O’Hare airport after arriving with the squad early Saturday, an Iraqi sports official said.
Hussein was finally allowed to enter, but the team’s photographer was barred from entering the United States, said the official, who works for the Iraqi Olympic Committee but has close contacts with the team.
There was no immediate comment from the Iraqi Football Federation or from Hussein, a talismanic figure who scored the goal that secured the team’s qualification for the final.
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Homeland Security Department did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment on the reported interrogation, which was also covered by Iraqi media.
Fans came out in the early hours of the morning to greet the Iraqi team at the airport, holding flags and asking the players to pose for photos less than a week before the start of the tournament, video on social media showed.
Hussein’s phone was examined after he arrived, the Iraqi official said.
“National team photographer Talal Salah was detained for more than 10 hours, underwent similar phone checks and was ultimately denied entry to the United States,” the official added.
Iraq are returning to the World Cup for the first time since their debut 40 years ago.
Hussein, 30, leads a potent frontline that also features Ipswich Town’s Ali Al-Hamadi and talented youngsters Ali Jassim and Youssef Amyn.
Iraq will face France, Senegal and Norway in Group I.
The tournament, hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, starts on Thursday.
