Senegal Thrash 10-Man Iraq 5-0, Keep FIFA World Cup Knockout Hopes Alive

Score: Senegal 5-0 Iraq

Toronto, June 2026 : Senegal produced a dominant second-half display to hammer 10-man Iraq 5-0 in their final Group I fixture of the FIFA World Cup on Friday, keeping their hopes of reaching the Round of 32 alive as one of the tournament’s best third-placed teams.

The emphatic victory lifted Senegal to three points, but their qualification fate now depends on results in the remaining group matches scheduled for Saturday. Iraq, meanwhile, endured a disappointing campaign, exiting the tournament without earning a single point after losing all three of their group-stage matches.

Knowing that only a victory would keep their knockout ambitions alive, Senegal started brightly and took the lead through Habib Diarra. His strike, which took a crucial deflection, wrong-footed the Iraqi goalkeeper and handed the African side an early advantage.

Iraq’s task became even more difficult in the 13th minute when defender Rebin Sulaka was sent off following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review. The referee upgraded his initial decision after reviewing Sulaka’s challenge on Senegal captain Sadio Mane, leaving the Asian side to battle with 10 men for the remainder of the contest.

Despite enjoying a numerical advantage for most of the match, Senegal struggled to break down Iraq’s disciplined defensive structure during the first half. Although they controlled possession and created opportunities, the decisive breakthrough remained elusive until after the interval.

The floodgates finally opened in the second half as Senegal showcased their attacking quality. Ismaila Sarr doubled the lead with his fourth FIFA World Cup goal, a strike that also saw him become Senegal’s all-time leading scorer in World Cup history.

Substitute Pape Gueye then stole the spotlight with two spectacular long-range goals. Having only recently entered the field, Gueye unleashed a powerful drive clocked at 84 km/h before producing an even more ferocious effort measured at 103 km/h, leaving the Iraqi goalkeeper with no chance on either occasion.

Iliman Ndiaye completed the rout late in the game with a thunderous finish, capping an outstanding second-half performance that reflected Senegal’s attacking depth and clinical finishing.

While delighted with the result, Senegal coach Malick Thiaw acknowledged that his side’s first-half display lacked fluency and admitted there remains room for improvement should they progress further in the competition. Senegal could potentially face Egypt or another strong contender if they secure qualification to the knockout rounds.

The victory saw Senegal finish third in Group I behind France and Norway, with three points. Their hopes of advancing now rest on the performances of teams in Groups J and K, with only the eight best third-placed teams across the tournament progressing alongside the top two teams from each group.

For Iraq, the defeat brought an end to a forgettable World Cup campaign. Competing in only their second FIFA World Cup in four decades, the Asian nation finished bottom of the group after suffering defeats in all three matches and scoring just once throughout the tournament.