Detained by US customs 2 weeks ago, Aymen Hussein scores for Iraq in his World Cup debut

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Iraq striker Aymen Hussein was delayed on the way to his first World Cup.

He still made the best of his tournament debut.

Earlier this month, it wasn't clear whether Hussein would be able to compete in the tournament after he and another member of the team's traveling party were detained for several hours coming through U.S. customs in Chicago.

Two weeks later, Hussein scored the second World Cup goal in his country's history during Iraq's 4-1 loss to Norway on Tuesday.

Hussein also had a late own goal, but Iraq coach Graham Arnold took only positives out of his star's effort.

“I’d rather remember his performance and the way he’s played,” Arnold said. “He’s had quite a few injures during the season. For him to get through 90 minutes. ... He’s the type of player that’s very difficult to control in the box. I’m very proud of him.”

Norway took a 1-0 lead in the 29th minute on a sliding goal by Erling Haaland.

Nine minutes later, Hussein energized a sizable contingent of white-clad Iraqi fans amid a sea of Norwegian red at Gillette Stadium.

Amir Alammari corralled a ball on the baseline halfway between the left corner and the goal and fired a cross. It eluded Norway’s defenders, allowing Hussein to punch a clean header that bounced under the hand of diving goalkeeper Orjan Nyland.

Iraq is playing in its second World Cup and first in 40 years.

Hussein appeared deflated as he shook hands with Norway's players afterward, but his teammates were proud of the lift — however momentary — his goal provided to a team that came in as a heavy underdog.

“It's a proud moment for him,” defender Hussein Ali said. “But, of course, the end result, it's hard to celebrate a goal like that. But we're on to the next game.”

Setting aside Hussein's difficulties in customs, Arnold, who guided Australia at the 2022 World Cup, said the team's experience leading up to Tuesday's match has been positive.

“FIFA, even the U.S., it's not about politics — it's about football,” he said. “The way we've been treated has been first class.”

Arnold said his team's effort Tuesday bodes well heading into Monday's match against France in Philadelphia.

“I was very proud of the first 65-70 minutes,” Arnold said. “A couple of mistakes of players this type of level will always punish you. So we need to learn lessons from these mistakes.”

AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

Iraq's Aymen Hussein (18) celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's opening goal during the World Cup Group I soccer match between Iraq and Norway in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)

Iraq's Aymen Hussein (18) celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal with Ali Alhamadi (9) during the World Cup Group I soccer match between Iraq and Norway in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)

Iraq's Aymen Hussein celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the World Cup Group I soccer match between Iraq and Norway in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Iraq's Aymen Hussein (18), celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the World Cup Group I soccer match between Iraq and Norway in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Norway will go as far in this World Cup as Erling Haaland takes it.

In his tournament debut, he showed he’s more than up for that challenge.

Haaland scored two goals, including one off a defensive blunder, on Tuesday to propel Norway to a 4-1 victory over Iraq in Group I.

The Manchester City striker's 56th and 57th international goals came in Norway’s first appearance in the tournament since reaching the knockout round at the 1998 World Cup in France — two years before Haaland was born.

Haaland said he will do his best to meet the expectations he created with this performance.

“Of course I will try,” Haaland said. “It’s about continuing and don’t think too much. It’s difficult at this stage. But I’ll focus on (the) next (game) and of course be happy. But also stay calm.”

Norway coach Stale Solbakken said he had a feeling Haaland was ready after watching how loose he was in the team's last training session before the match.

“You could see that he lived up to the occasion,” Solbakken said. “The occasion wasn’t too big for him.”

Leo Ostigard scored in the 76th minute off a corner kick from Martin Odegaard. An own-goal by Iraq forward Aymen Hussein just before the final whistle completed Norway's scoring.

Hussein also scored for his team, an equalizer just nine minutes after Haaland’s first strike.

Haaland put the Norwegians in front for good just before halftime when he sneaked in front of a poor back pass to Iraq goalkeeper Jalal Hassan. Haaland beat Hassan to the ball, preempting his attempted clearance, and then used his shin to put the ball in the back of the net.

“It's one of those things. It happened,” Iraq coach Graham Arnold said. “It is what is and we have to learn from it.”

Haaland’s first goal, which came in the 29th minute, followed a cross into the box from David Moller Wolfe. Haaland slid and used his right heel to finish it off. It ignited waves of cheers from the Norway supporters, who dominated the stands clad in red as they broke out in synchronized Viking row chants.

Iraq, playing in the World Cup for just the second time after debuting in 1986, held its own with a sizable contingent of supporters that was mostly concentrated behind one of the goals.

That energy helped Iraq briefly get back into the game.

In the 38th minute, Amir Alammari corralled a ball on the baseline halfway between the left corner and the goal and fired a cross in front of the net. It eluded Norway’s defenders, allowing Hussein to get a clean header that bounced under the hand of diving goalkeeper Orjan Nyland to even the score at 1-1.

It was Hussein’s 34th international goal. That includes his winning goal against Bolivia in Iraq’s final World Cup qualifying match in April that gave the country the last spot in the 48-team tournament field.

“It’s a proud moment to be back in the World Cup after 40 years. To lose 4-1, it hurts,” Iraq's Hussein Ali said.

AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

Norway's Erling Haaland (9) reacts during the World Cup Group I soccer match between Iraq and Norway in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Iraq's Aymen Hussein celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the World Cup Group I soccer match between Iraq and Norway in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Norway's Erling Haaland (9), center, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's second goal during the World Cup Group I soccer match between Iraq and Norway in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Norway's Erling Haaland (9) celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the World Cup Group I soccer match between Iraq and Norway in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Norway's Erling Haaland celebrates scoring his side's opening goal during the World Cup Group I soccer match between Iraq and Norway in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)