Striker fulfils his promise to lead Iraq to the 2026 World Cup

While navigating difficult circumstances during his life and football career, international striker Aymen Hussein always returned strongly to shine. Now, he’s fulfilling a long time promise to fans to lead Iraq to the 2026 World Cup.

Iraq, Aymen Hussein and a viral video

It was 10 years ago when Hussein first promised to take his country’s national team to the World Cup, a dream that came true after a long journey through the qualifiers, the Asian play-offs, and then the final stage in the global play-offs in Mexico, where he played 21 full matches on his journey back to the World Cup spotlight.

Things became difficult for the team after Hussein suffered career-impacting injuries. At one point, this prompted fans to call for him to be excluded from the national team, but Hussein would come back stronger every time, whether in the qualifiers or the continental championships.

The 30-year-old began playing football with clubs in Duhok and played for several Iraqi teams. His professional career started in Qatar, the UAE and Morocco, before returning to Iraq, where he scored more than 100 goals.

Hussein contributed to Iraq winning the 2023 Gulf Cup title in Basra and scored 93 goals wearing the ‘Lions of Mesopotamia’ jersey. The most precious of which was his goal against Bolivia, which announced Iraq’s arrival at the World Cup.

Hussein continued to spread joy to his country and all Arabs, writing a historical chapter in his football journey filled with lessons and achievements.

From the moment Iraq made its historic second return to the World Cup after 40 years, a video of Hussein promising to lead Iraq to the World Cup in 2016, went viral. In 2026, his promise is finally being fulfilled.

Fighting mentality and team spirit

Iraq’s national team coach, Graham Arnold, confirmed that the Lions of Mesopotamia will enter the 2026 World Cup with a fighting mentality and team spirit, relying on discipline and determination in facing one of the toughest groups in the tournament.

During a press conference in Baghdad, Arnold said that the Iraqi national team is aware of the magnitude of the challenges that await it in the World Cup, especially after being placed in a group that includes France, Norway and Senegal. However, he stressed that the players will enter the tournament with great confidence and a desire to honour Iraqi football.

Featured image via Rodrigo Oropeza/ Getty Images