ع
Senegal kept their World Cup hopes alive with a 5-0 victory over Iraq on June 26 in Toronto. The win put them third in Group I with three points and in contention for the round of 32 as one of the best third-placed teams after Iraq went down to 10 men in the 13th minute, according to Qatar News Agency.
Qatar News Agency named Habib Diallo as the first-half goalscorer for Senegal. Ismaila Sarr, Pape Gueye twice and Iliman Ndiaye added the second-half goals at the 56th, 59th, 71st and 82nd minutes respectively, FIFA match statistics showed. The early red card to Rebin Sulaka altered the complexion of the game in Senegal’s favor from the 13th minute onward. ESPN reported that the Senegalese took full control following the dismissal.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup features 48 teams in 12 groups of four with the top two from each group and the eight best third-placed teams progressing to the round of 32 according to FIFA regulations. Senegal’s large margin of victory has enhanced their goal difference a critical factor when third-placed teams are compared. A report by ESPN highlighted the importance of goal difference in the current format. This structure offers more opportunities for African teams like Senegal to make an impact in the competition.
Iraq had lost their previous two group matches before facing Senegal leaving them needing results to advance prior to this fixture. The loss with a red card compounded their difficulties in the North American-hosted event. According to post-match summaries from FOX Sports the Iraqi defense was stretched thin after the early numerical disadvantage. Graham Arnold’s side could not recover from the setback against a clinical Senegalese attack.
The match venue in Toronto was one of several used in the United States and Canada for the tournament FIFA said. BBC Sport covered the highlights of the encounter noting the second-half dominance that produced four of the five goals. The result contributed to the final Group I table where Senegal placed ahead of Iraq with a superior record. FIFA’s official match centre recorded all key events and statistics from the Group I clash.
Senegal’s squad depth was evident with five different players contributing to the scoring across the 90 minutes. The timing of the goals reflected sustained pressure that increased after the interval. An assessment by Al Jazeera noted how the numerical advantage allowed Senegal to dictate play without reply. This outcome leaves Iraq eliminated at the bottom of the group with zero points from their three matches.
