Aymen Hussein: The Journey of Iraq's 'Lion of Mesopotamia' from Tragedy to World Cup
Al Jazeera English
Aymen Hussein, Iraq's most expensive footballer, overcame personal tragedy—including his father's murder and brother's kidnapping—to lead his team to the 2026 World Cup. His mother's insistence that he pursue his dream kept him in the sport.
The journey to the World Cup for striker Aymen Hussein, who scored the decisive goal that helped Iraq beat Bolivia in the intercontinental playoff, has been a long path filled with hardship and tears. He is Iraq's most expensive footballer, but behind that fame lies irreplaceable loss.
In 2008, when Hussein was just 12, his father—an Iraqi soldier—was brutally murdered by al-Qaeda while buying building materials for their home. A few years later, his brother was kidnapped when the Islamic State (ISIS) group seized control of the area and has been missing ever since.
Hussein once wanted to quit football to care for his family, but his mother firmly opposed it. She told him: 'That is your dream. I know it. And you must fulfill it.'
His family lived by farming and raising sheep in the village of al-Safra, in al-Hawija district, north-central Iraq. After his father's death, Hussein asked his family to move, but his brother refused because he had joined the army.
In 2012, a turning point came when Hussein was recruited by the Dohuk club in the Kurdistan region. He signed a contract worth 18 million Iraqi dinars (about $14,000) with a monthly salary of 1.2 million Iraqi dinars ($920). 'To be honest, I was ready to play for free. You cannot imagine what it meant to me at that time to play alongside Iraq national team players,' Hussein recalled.
He later played for several Baghdad clubs, including Al-Shorta, Al-Talaba, and Al-Zawraa, becoming the top scorer in the Iraqi league. His latest contract brought him to Al Karma club for $1 million, making him the most expensive player in Iraqi football history.
In 2016, Hussein scored the second goal in extra time to help Iraq's U23 team beat Qatar in the AFC U23 Championship, securing a spot at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics. In 2023, he was the top scorer at the 25th Arabian Gulf Cup with three goals, leading Iraq to the title. In 2024, he played a key role in helping Iraq qualify for the Paris Olympics with a 2-1 victory over Indonesia.
The last time the 'Lions of Mesopotamia' (Iraq's team nickname) participated in a World Cup was in 1986, a decade before Hussein was born. Now he is the number-one hope for fans. Goalkeeper and captain Jalal Hassan remarked: 'Aymen is a high-quality striker. The team definitely needs him, and his presence will make a difference at the World Cup.'
At the 2026 World Cup group stage, Iraq is in Group 9 alongside France, Senegal, and Norway. Former captain Hussein Saeed, Iraq's all-time top scorer with 78 goals, hopes: 'Aymen has a clear influence on the entire team. I hope he can take the team beyond the group stage.'
However, many Iraqi fans worry about traveling to the United States to cheer on the team due to visa difficulties and high costs. Tickets for a match cost over $3,000, and a trip lasting at least two weeks could exceed $15,000, beyond the means of ordinary fans.
