Senegal Stuns Iraq 5-0 to Keep World Cup Knockout Hopes Alive

Senegal secured a dominant 5-0 victory over Iraq at Toronto Stadium, significantly bolstering their chances of reaching the Round of 32 in the 2026 World Cup. The match turned decisively in the 13th minute when Iraqi defender Rebin Sulaka received a straight red card following a VAR intervention for a professional foul on Sadio Mane. The early numerical disadvantage crippled Iraq's game plan, which was designed to maintain a compact defensive structure to stifle Senegal’s pacey forwards. Iraq struggled to mitigate the space provided to Senegalese midfielders throughout the match, ultimately leading to their winless exit from the tournament.

Habib Diarra opened the scoring for Senegal in the fourth minute, establishing an early lead. After a scoreless middle period, Senegal capitalized on their player advantage to overwhelm the Iraqi defense. Ismaila Sarr extended the lead in the 56th minute, followed by an impressive display from Pape Gueye, who scored two long-range stunners in the 59th and 71st minutes. Iliman Ndiaye completed the scoring in the 82nd minute, sealing a comprehensive victory and ensuring a plus-two goal differential, which is crucial for Senegal’s knockout phase ambitions.

Having finished third in Group I with three points, Senegal now holds the fifth-best record among all third-placed teams. Their advancement remains unconfirmed and depends on the final results of concurrent group matches scheduled for the weekend. Senegal must wait to see if they secure a spot among the top four third-place qualifiers. Meanwhile, Iraq’s first World Cup appearance since 1986 concludes without a single point, prompting likely inquiries regarding refereeing consistency, while Senegal prepares for a potential progression to the knockout rounds.