SenegalvsIraq

Result

Senegal signed off their group campaign with a ruthless 5-0 demolition of Iraq, who played most of the match a man down after Rebin Sulaka was sent off in the 13th minute. Habib Diarra opened the scoring early and substitute Pape Gueye struck twice from distance after the break, with Ismaïla Sarr and Iliman Ndiaye also on the scoresheet. The result lifts Senegal to three points and keeps their hopes of a best-third-placed berth alive, while Iraq finish bottom of Group I without a point.

Senegal 4-3-34-2-3-1 Iraq

Senegal

Iraq

Habib Diarra4'

Ismaïla Sarr56'

Pape Gueye59'

Pape Gueye71'

Iliman Ndiaye82'

Abdoulaye Seck18'

Amir Al-Ammari75'

Pape Gueye81'

Merchas Doski90'

Rebin Sulaka13'

69%Possession31%

28Shots6

12On target1

1Saves7

12Corners3

517Passes completed184

88%Pass accuracy69%

12Tackles20

51Touches in box5

Substitutions

Iliman Ndiayefor Ibrahim Mbayeat 57'

Munaf Younusfor Ahmed Qasimat 16'

Nicolas Jacksonfor Lamine Camaraat 57'

Jalal Hassanfor Ahmed Basilat 45'

Pape Gueyefor Habib Diarraat 57'

Ahmed Maknazifor Ali Jasimat 58'

Pathé Cissfor Abdoulaye Seckat 58'

Ali Yousiffor Ali Al-Hamadiat 58'

Assane Diaofor Ismaïla Sarrat 81'

Kevin Yakobfor Zidane Iqbalat 67'

At this Stage

The 5-0 tells you what Senegal could have been; the table tells you what they are. Three points and a +2 goal difference — better than second-placed Norway's +1 — still leave them third, because points are the currency and two defeats to France and Norway left Senegal short of them. Their campaign now sits in the best-third waiting room, its outcome resting on arithmetic in other groups. Above them the group finished true to form: France perfect on nine points after beating Norway 4-1 for top spot, Norway through in second on six. Iraq's first World Cup since 1986 ends pointless with twelve conceded, Rebin Sulaka's 13th-minute red card in Toronto a fair emblem of a campaign that never found a foothold. Senegal did the only thing left in their power: win big, and wait.

Group I

Team	P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
France	3	3	0	0	+8	9
Norway	3	2	0	1	+1	6
Senegal	3	1	0	2	+2	3
Iraq	3	0	0	3	-11	0

Top two (above the accent line) advance to the round of 32; the third-placed team is in the race for one of the eight best-third spots.

What we know now

What I said beforehand

The preview, frozen at kickoff. Clearly dated, never rewritten — that's the deal that makes the predictions worth anything.

Senegal to win and at least give themselves something to sweat over in the third-place race. They have lost twice, but the defeats came against France and Norway and the front line still has enough pace through Mané, Sarr and Jackson to hurt Iraq. Iraq have conceded seven goals and need a huge swing to stay alive. Senegal's athletic edge should finally turn into three points. 2-0 Senegal.

Both cases written 2026-06-25, before kickoff — they freeze into the record exactly as written, however the match goes. The percentages are mine, quoted to a decimal because false precision is funnier — the unclaimed 27% belongs to the draw.