Senegal kept their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign alive with a ruthless 5-0 dismantling of ten-man Iraq in Toronto, sealing third place in Group I and vaulting into contention for one of the eight best third-place berths in the Round of 32.
Habib Diarra opened the scoring inside four minutes before Iraq’s task became insurmountable in the 13th minute. Referee Anthony Taylor initially cautioned Rebin Sulaka for hauling down Sadio Mané, but upgraded the decision to a red card after a VAR review deemed the defender had denied an obvious goalscoring opportunity.
Despite the numerical advantage, Senegal struggled to extend their lead before the interval. The floodgates opened ten minutes after the restart when Ismaïla Sarr tapped home his third goal of the tournament, set up by Lamine Camara. Substitute Pape Gueye then produced two spectacular long-range strikes—the first a curling left-footed effort, the second a thunderous half-volley—to effectively settle the contest. Iliman Ndiaye completed the rout in the 82nd minute with another finish from distance.
The result lifts Senegal to fifth in the provisional third-place standings with a goal difference of +2, though four teams beneath them have yet to complete their group fixtures. Pape Thiaw’s side must now wait for results elsewhere to determine whether they advance as one of the best third-placed teams.
Defensive resilience and squad decisions
Moussa Niakhaté featured for every minute of Senegal’s group stage campaign, providing defensive stability that contrasts sharply with Iraq’s tournament record. The Lions of Teranga conceded just three goals across their three matches, while Iraq finish with the competition’s leakiest defence after shipping 12 goals.
Head coach Pape Thiaw opted to name Chelsea loanee Nicolas Jackson among the substitutes, while Bayern Munich’s teenage midfielder Bara Sapoko Ndiaye remained an unused substitute throughout the tournament. Iraq were deprived of Aymen Hussein, whose injury sustained against France ruled him out of the decisive fixture.
Iraq’s elimination
The heavy defeat confirms Iraq’s elimination from their second World Cup appearance and first since 1986. Reduced to ten men early and unable to contain Senegal’s second-half surge, they depart the tournament without a point and with the worst defensive record in the competition.
Senegal, meanwhile, will monitor the remaining group stage fixtures to see if their +2 goal difference proves sufficient to extend their stay in Canada.