Iraqi Footballer Held Over 7 Hours at Chicago Airport Ahead of World Cup

CHICAGO, United States — The Iraqi national football team arrived in Chicago on Sunday for 2026 FIFA World Cup preparations. Forward Hussein was taken for additional security screening at O'Hare International Airport following passport control and held for more than seven hours before being granted entry, according to the Iraqi Football Association. Talal Salah, the team's official photographer on the same flight, was detained for more than ten hours and subsequently denied entry to the United States, association officials said. Both men traveled with the delegation as accredited members of Iraq's World Cup contingent, not as tourists, they added. The incident has renewed attention on U.S. border procedures applied to national team delegations ahead of major tournaments. Iraqi supporters celebrated the team's advancement in cities across the United States, Europe and Australia. Iraq will play friendly matches in the coming weeks, with their group stage opponents to be determined at a later draw.