What challenges did Iraq face before their World Cup return?

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Iraq Faced Extensive Qualification Hurdles Before World Cup Return

Iraq's journey to their first World Cup appearance since 1986 was marked by a prolonged and demanding qualification process. The team secured their final qualification spot in March, concluding a campaign that spanned 21 matches and 867 days. Following their crucial play-off victory over Bolivia, during which Aymen Hussein scored the decisive goal, he was detained and questioned for several hours by US immigration officials upon arrival with the squad.
Extended Qualification Campaign

The Iraqi national team navigated an exceptionally long qualification path for the World Cup. Their journey involved 21 matches, a process that extended over a period of 867 days before they finally secured their place as the 48th and last team to qualify in March. This extended duration highlights the significant investment of time and effort required for their World Cup berth.
Player Detainment by US Immigration

A notable incident occurred when Aymen Hussein, the scorer of the pivotal goal in the play-off match against Bolivia, was detained and subjected to hours of questioning by US immigration officials. This occurred immediately after he arrived with the rest of the squad, in the lead-up to Iraq's first World Cup participation in decades. The specific reasons for this questioning by immigration authorities were not detailed.

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What challenges did Iraq face before their World Cup return?

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