sports
Iraqi Striker Scores at World Cup 2026 After Airport Questioning
An Iraqi national team player scored during a Group I match days after undergoing seven hours of questioning at Chicago's O'Hare airport. A team photographer was denied entry after similar checks.
The IndependentAudio version
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An Iraqi striker scored during a World Cup 2026 match in Foxborough shortly after being questioned for seven hours at Chicago's O'Hare airport. The player was allowed to enter the United States, while the national team's photographer was denied entry after more than 10 hours of questioning.
An Iraqi sporting official said the player's phone was inspected upon arrival two weeks ago. The same official stated that the photographer underwent similar phone checks before being turned away.
The 30-year-old striker, Iraq's most expensive footballer, has been central to the team's qualification for its first World Cup since 1986. He scored the goal that secured Iraq's place in the tournament. His goal in the Group I contest against Norway canceled an early strike before Norway regained the lead.
The player previously competed for Qatar's Al Khor club and now plays for Al Karma under a reported $1 million contract.
The player said his mother encouraged him to continue his career after he considered quitting following his father's murder when he was 12. "I decided to quit playing football to take care of my family, but my mother refused," he said. " "Honestly, I was ready to play for free," the player added.
