Aymen Hussein: The Man Who Sent Iraq to the 2026 World Cup

On 31 March 2026, Aymen Hussein scored the goal that ended 40 years of hurt. His strike against Bolivia in the intercontinental play-off final sealed Iraq’s place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and instantly made him the most celebrated footballer in the country. For Iraqi fans, it was the moment they had been waiting for since 1986.

Hussein is now 30 years old, captain of the national team, and Iraq’s go-to man in every big match. This is his profile ahead of the tournament that starts on 11 June.

Aymen Hussein: Player Profile

The Goal That Qualified Iraq

Few moments in Iraqi football history carry the weight of what happened on 31 March 2026. Iraq faced Bolivia in the intercontinental play-off final with a place at the World Cup at stake. The match was level at 1-1 when Hussein found the net to make it 2-1. Iraq held on. The final whistle confirmed their return to the World Cup for the first time since 1986.

It was, according to Goal.com, the very last goal of the entire global qualifying campaign. The timing could not have been more fitting for a player who has carried so much of Iraq’s attacking responsibility over the past decade.

The reaction inside Iraq was immediate. Hussein became a national hero overnight, and in the weeks since the qualifier, the buzz around Iraq’s World Cup 2026 qualification story has only grown as the tournament draws closer.

A Career Built Across the Region

Hussein’s path to becoming Iraq’s captain was anything but straightforward. He came up through youth football in northern Iraq before breaking into the senior game with Duhok. From there he moved across multiple leagues, spending time in Tunisia with CS Sfaxien, in Qatar with Al-Khor and Al-Wakrah, in the UAE with Al-Jazira, and in Morocco with Raja Casablanca, before returning to the Iraqi Stars League with Al-Karma.

That breadth of experience across the Middle East and North Africa made him a more complete striker. He adapted to different styles of play and faced opponents at various levels of the game, which shows in the way he performs under pressure for the national team.

His most decorated spell came with Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya, where he won the Iraqi League title in the 2020-21 season. He also won the Gulf Cup of Nations with Iraq in 2023.

The 2023 Asian Cup: Where the World Took Notice

If the Bolivia goal made Hussein a hero at home, the 2023 AFC Asian Cup showed the wider football world what he was capable of. He finished as the tournament’s top scorer with 6 goals, scoring in every match Iraq played before their elimination in the round of 16.

Iraq 2-1 Japan

The standout performance came on 19 January 2024 at the Education City Stadium in Doha. Hussein scored twice in the first half, both headers, as Iraq beat Japan 2-1. It was Iraq’s first victory over Japan in 42 years. The result sent Iraq through to the knockout stage as group winners and announced Hussein as one of the tournament’s star players.

Top scorer with 6 goals

By the time Iraq were eliminated by Jordan in the round of 16, Hussein had scored 6 goals in 4 matches: one against Indonesia, two against Japan, two against Vietnam, and one against Jordan. No other player at the 2023 Asian Cup scored more. His performances confirmed what Iraqi fans already knew: in big games, their captain delivers.

What to Expect from Hussein at the 2026 World Cup

Iraq are in Group I alongside France, Senegal and Norway. On paper, it is a difficult draw. In practice, Hussein is the one player who can make the difference in any of those matches.

At 1.89 metres, he is a dominant aerial presence and a constant threat from set pieces. Goal.com noted that during the 2024-2026 qualifying cycle, he scored in 10 consecutive international matches, falling one game short of the all-time world record. That form going into a World Cup is exactly what Iraq need from their captain.

He will also play a key role as a target man, holding up play and bringing younger teammates like Zidane Iqbal and Ali Al-Hamadi into the game. At the World Cup, the group stage is where his story either continues or peaks.

For a full breakdown of Iraq’s group stage fixtures and their chances of progressing, see our Iraq World Cup 2026 guide.

Bet on Aymen Hussein at the World Cup

The World Cup Top Scorer market is one of the most popular outright bets of any tournament. Hussein will not start as one of the favourites given the competition from European and South American strikers, but his recent form and goal record make him worth considering as an outsider.

Betfinal is one of the most popular bookmakers among Iraqi football fans, with Arabic support and local deposit methods. They offer an outright Top Scorer market for the 2026 World Cup: place a $20 outright bet on your chosen player and receive a $5 Freebet every time that player scores during the tournament.

Back Aymen Hussein or any other World Cup striker at Betfinal’s World Cup Top Scorer market, or read our complete Betfinal World Cup 2026 promotions guide to see everything on offer during the tournament.

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