Aymen Hussein, the striker for Iraq's national football team, was detained and questioned for nearly seven hours at Chicago's O'Hare airport shortly after arriving with his teammates. An official from the Iraqi Olympic Committee reported that while Hussein was eventually allowed to enter the U.S., the team's photographer, Talal Salah, was barred from entry after being held for over ten hours and undergoing similar phone checks. Hussein, known for scoring the decisive goal that led Iraq to qualify for the World Cup, is a key player as the team prepares for its first World Cup appearance in 40 years. Fans welcomed the squad at the airport, expressing excitement ahead of the tournament, which starts on Thursday and will see Iraq compete against France, Senegal, and Norway in Group I. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security have not commented on the incidents, which have also been reported by Iraqi media.