French Ligue 1 club Auxerre are closely monitoring Iraq striker Aymen Hussein following his standout performances at the FIFA World Cup 2026, with the club expected to make a final assessment during Iraq's upcoming clash against France, according to France Football.
The report states that Auxerre have been tracking Hussein for an extended period and have instructed their scouting team to evaluate the 30-year-old striker during Iraq's second Group I fixture before deciding whether to submit an official transfer offer after the tournament.
The French club is reportedly impressed by Hussein's physical presence, intelligent movement inside the penalty area, aerial ability, and clinical finishing—qualities he once again demonstrated by scoring Iraq's lone goal in the 4-1 defeat to Norway.
Neither Auxerre nor the player's representatives have confirmed that a formal offer has been made.
Hussein's goal against Norway came after he rose above the defense to meet a precise cross from Amir Al-Ammari, powering a header into the net to level the score. The equalizer briefly gave Graham Arnold's side momentum before Norway regained control through Erling Haaland and capitalized on late Iraqi defensive mistakes.
The upcoming meeting with France is expected to provide an even greater test for Hussein. Iraq will face one of the tournament favorites at Lincoln Financial Field, where the experienced striker is once again expected to spearhead the attack against a defense featuring some of Europe's elite players.
France have already acknowledged the threat posed by Iraq's physical and direct attacking style. Defender William Saliba has warned against underestimating the Lions of Mesopotamia, while Lucas Digne highlighted Iraq's traditional 4-4-2 formation and their effectiveness in playing direct football.
Hussein has established himself as one of Iraq's most influential players in recent years, scoring crucial goals in both AFC competitions and World Cup qualifiers. He remains the focal point of Iraq's attack and one of the country's most reliable goal scorers.
His strike against Norway also carried historic significance, becoming Iraq's first FIFA World Cup goal since the nation's only previous appearance at the 1986 tournament.
Iraq now face a must-win encounter against France on Tuesday at 00:00 Baghdad time, with a positive result essential to keep their hopes of reaching the knockout stage alive before their final Group I match against Senegal.
