What seemed like a dream quickly turned into a nightmare. After securing his nation's return to the World Cup with a goal against Bolivia, Iraq's Aymen Hussein found himself detained by US authorities upon arrival in Chicago.
According to Kora Plus, an Egyptian channel, Hussein was separated from the delegation by border officials and held for seven hours inside the airport.
The same source reports that the 30-year-old striker underwent a series of security and administrative procedures, including interrogations, before finally being released.
One of Iraq's most prominent players, Hussein has a troubled past linked to terrorism. In 2008, his father died while serving in the army fighting Al Qaeda. Later, six years after, his brother was kidnapped by the Islamic State and was never found.