Toronto, Canada — Senegal produced their best performance of the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a commanding 5-0 victory over Iraq in their final Group I match on Thursday, keeping their slim hopes of reaching the Round of 32 alive while condemning Iraq to a winless exit from the tournament.
The Teranga Lions knew only a convincing victory would give them a realistic chance of advancing as one of the tournament’s best third-placed teams, and they delivered exactly that with an attacking masterclass at Toronto Stadium.
Senegal made the perfect start, breaking the deadlock in just the fourth minute when Habib Diarra found the back of the net after sustained early pressure. The goal settled the African side, who dominated possession and forced Iraq onto the defensive from the opening whistle.
Iraq’s hopes suffered a devastating blow in the 13th minute when defender Rebin Sulaka received a straight red card for bringing down Sadio Mané as the Senegal captain threatened to race through on goal. Reduced to ten men for more than 75 minutes, the Lions of Mesopotamia struggled to contain Senegal’s relentless attacks.
Despite creating several chances before the break, Senegal carried only a 1-0 advantage into halftime. However, the floodgates opened after the restart.
Ismaïla Sarr doubled the lead in the 56th minute before midfielder Pape Gueye struck twice in quick succession, scoring in the 59th and 71st minutes to put the contest beyond doubt. Iliman Ndiaye completed the rout with a superb long-range finish in the 82nd minute, capping a memorable afternoon for Aliou Cissé’s men.
The emphatic victory lifted Senegal to three points in Group I after defeats to France and Norway in their opening two matches. While the win dramatically improved their goal difference, their qualification depended on the final ranking of third-placed teams across the expanded 48-team tournament.
For Iraq, the defeat marked a disappointing end to their World Cup campaign. They finished bottom of Group I without a point after losses to Norway, France and Senegal, scoring just once while conceding 11 goals.
The victory also highlighted Senegal’s attacking quality, with Mané orchestrating much of the play despite not getting on the scoresheet. Habib Diarra, Pape Gueye and Ismaïla Sarr all delivered standout performances as the African champions reminded the world of their potential on football’s biggest stage.
Although qualification was no longer entirely in Senegal’s hands, their dominant display ensured they finished the group stage with renewed belief and a respectable finish after navigating one of the tournament’s toughest groups alongside France and Norway.
Final Score: Senegal 5-0 Iraq
Goals:
Habib Diarra (4′)
Ismaïla Sarr (56′)
Pape Gueye (59′, 71′)
Iliman Ndiaye (82′)
Red Card:
Rebin Sulaka (Iraq, 13′)
