Iraqi striker Aymen Hussein joins Pakhtakor after World Cup run
Iraqi international striker Aymen Hussein has signed with reigning Uzbek champions Pakhtakor FC following an eventful summer that included a historic World Cup campaign and a prolonged detention by US border officials.
The 30-year-old centre forward joins the Tashkent-based club on a contract running through the end of the 2026 season, according to an announcement on the team’s official Instagram account.
A career forged in tragedy
Hussein’s journey to the pinnacle of international football is marked by profound personal loss. His father, an Iraqi army officer, was killed by Al-Qaeda operatives after refusing demands to abandon his military post. Years later, ISIS militants abducted his brother whose fate remains unknown to this day.
The overwhelming grief and financial pressure almost forced the forward into early retirement.
«I decided to quit football to take care of my family, but my mother disagreed,» Hussein reflected. «She asked me to keep playing».
Delivering a 40-year miracle
That decision to continue playing ultimately altered Iraqi sporting history. On May 31, Hussein scored the decisive goal in a playoff match against Bolivia to secure Iraq’s first World Cup qualification since 1986.
His heroic status was cemented at the tournament in North America. Despite a 4-1 group stage defeat to Norway, Hussein found the net to give his nation a momentary equaliser.
«It means a lot, especially considering that we managed to score in our first World Cup match in 40 years,» Hussein said after the match. «I am grateful for the goal, but scoring when you are losing is not the same feeling at all».
North American border complications
The striker’s World Cup experience was nearly derailed before a ball was kicked. Upon arriving at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, Hussein endured a seven-hour interrogation by US customs officials. Authorities subjected him to additional security screenings and inspected his mobile phone before granting entry.
Despite these off-pitch hurdles, the 1.89-metre attacker remains a potent offensive threat. Valued at €400,000 according to his Transfermarkt profile, he arrives in Uzbekistan boasting 120 career club goals per Pakhtakor’s social media statement. His professional resume spans clubs across the Middle East and North Africa, including stints with Raja Athletic in Morocco, Sfaxien in Tunisia and Al Jazira in the UAE.
Transfermarkt statistics indicate Hussein has earned 93 caps for the Iraqi national team while scoring 33 times, though Pakhtakor credits him with 34 international goals. Throughout his domestic career, he has claimed four league championships and one domestic cup while featuring for Iraqi sides like Al-Shorta and Al Quwa Al Jawiya alongside Qatari clubs such as Umm Salal and Al-Wakrah.
