Iraq’s World Cup delegation landed at O’Hare for a tune-up match against Venezuela, but U.S. Customs and Border Protection detained star player Aymen Hussein for seven hours and sent a team photographer, Talal Salah, back to Iraq after determining he was inadm
Late Friday night at O’Hare International Airport, the Iraq delegation’s arrival for a World Cup tune-up became something else entirely.
Iraq’s team flew into Chicago because it will play a tune-up match against Venezuela at SeatGeek Stadium in southwest suburban Bridgeview on Tuesday night. But when the players arrived, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents detained star player Aymen Hussein and questioned him for seven hours before he was allowed into the country.
A second member of the delegation was stopped as well. Team photographer Talal Salah was detained and “was determined to be inadmissible and was denied entry due to vetting concerns. ” a CBP spokesperson said. Customs and Border Patrol did not elaborate on the reasons the photographer was sent back to Iraq.
CBP spokespersons said admissibility decisions are handled individually. “Admissibility determinations are made on a case-by-case basis using law enforcement. national security. and immigration information available at the time of inspection. ” a CBP spokesperson said. They also said admissibility decisions for all travelers, including athletes, coaches, and staff, are subject to inspection and vetting.
One Iraqi American visiting Chicago for the match described the detainment as unsettling. Ali Challabi, who was in Chicago with his son from Houston to watch Iraq play Venezuela, said he was relieved Hussein is now in the country, but disappointed by what happened at the airport.
“Everybody in Iraq, they’re talking about this,” Challabi said. “This is not supposed to happen like that, because he’s an international player team, and he’s not coming here to visit, he’s coming here to play and do his job and go back to Iraq. It’s so weird it’s happening with my country.”
Inside the Iraqi team, at least one source said they do not believe they are being singled out for political reasons. The source pointed to reports that a Somali referee and a Swiss player were also denied entry when they arrived in the United States for the World Cup.
The team’s source also outlined a recent entry sequence at O’Hare connected to those concerns. On June 5, the Iraqi national team arrived at Chicago O’Hare International Airport from Dubai International Airport. During processing. two travelers underwent additional inspection. described as a routine part of CBP’s inspection process when officers need to verify information or determine admissibility. After the inspection, one traveler was admitted to the United States. The second traveler. identified as a photographer and not a player on the team. was determined to be inadmissible and was denied entry due to vetting concerns.
For the Iraqi delegation now. the practical question is whether the airport disruption changes the tone of a trip meant to stay focused on football. Hussein was questioned for seven hours before being allowed in, and Salah was denied entry after being found inadmissible. Despite the detentions. Iraq still arrives at the central task ahead of Tuesday night’s match at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview.
Iraq World Cup delegation Aymen Hussein O'Hare airport U.S. Customs and Border Protection Talal Salah denied entry vetting concerns Venezuela tune-up match SeatGeek Stadium Bridgeview