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By Ethan Carter — 26 June 2026 — 3 min read

Senegal defeated Iraq by a score of 5-0 in their final Group I match, a result that keeps their hopes alive for advancing to the knockout stages of the World Cup. The victory was crucial for Senegal, as both teams entered the match needing a win to secure third place in the group and potentially progress as one of the best third-placed teams.

The match saw goals from Habib Diarra, Ismaila Sarr, Iliman Ndiaye, and two goals from Pape Gueye. This decisive win completed a challenging tournament for Iraq, who had previously suffered significant losses to both France and Norway.

Group Stage Performance and Knockout Hopes

Prior to their match against Iraq, Senegal had faced tough competition in Group I. Their opening challenge was against France, where they were defeated 3-1. Kylian Mbappe scored two goals in that match. Following this, Senegal played Norway and lost 3-2, with Erling Haaland also scoring two goals for Norway.

Despite these initial setbacks, the 5-0 win against Iraq, who played with 10 men, allowed Senegal to finish Group I with three points and a goal difference of +2. This places them in contention for one of the eight best third-placed team spots, which would secure their progression to the knockout stage.

The qualification for the knockout stages depends on the final results from other groups. Senegal is currently guaranteed to finish ahead of Scotland from Group C and South Korea from Group A. Their advancement could be further aided by specific outcomes in other matches, such as a victory for Spain against Uruguay in Group H. Additionally, a win for Egypt against Iran, combined with any result other than a win for New Zealand against Belgium, would secure Senegal’s place in the next round.

Pre-Match Expectations and Team Dynamics

Heading into the final Group I fixture, both Senegal and Iraq were aware that a win was essential to maintain their World Cup aspirations. Goal difference was also identified as a potentially decisive factor in determining which teams would secure the best third-place spots. This expectation set the stage for a match where both sides were anticipated to push for goals until the final whistle, suggesting an open and competitive encounter.

Historically, the two nations had never met before this match. On paper, Senegal was considered the favorite, holding a FIFA World Ranking of 19th compared to Iraq’s 60th. Senegal also possesses a more extensive World Cup pedigree and a squad with considerable experience at the highest level of football.

However, recent form indicated that the match might be closer than the rankings suggested. Both teams had recorded identical points-per-game averages over their last six matches. The primary difference between them lay in their attacking capabilities, with Senegal averaging 1.67 goals per game compared to Iraq’s 0.83. This disparity in offensive output suggested that Senegal had greater firepower if the match developed into a high-scoring affair, which ultimately proved to be the case with their 5-0 victory.

The outcome of Senegal’s progression to the knockout stages now hinges on the concluding matches in Group H, Group G, Group L, Group K, and Group J, all of which are scheduled to conclude over the next few days.

Source: sports.yahoo.com