Senegal Storm Into the Last 32 With a Five-Star Show
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FIFA World Cup 2026 · Toronto Stadium · Toronto · June 26
Senegal 5–0 Iraq: Fifa World Cup 2026 Match Report
Tim H
Match Report & Goalkeeper Analysis
June 29, 2026
8 min read
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🇸🇳
Senegal
Lions of Teranga · Group I
Diarra 4'
I. Sarr 56'
Gueye 59', 71'
Ndiaye 82'
5
–
0
Full Time
June 26, 2026
Toronto Stadium · Toronto, Canada
Group I · Matchday 3
🇮🇶
Iraq
Lions of Mesopotamia · Group I
🟥 Sulaka 13' (red card)
Match Summary
Senegal produced an emphatic statement to keep their World Cup alive, thrashing Iraq 5-0 in their final Group I match at Toronto Stadium on June 26. Habib Diarra struck inside four minutes and Iraq's task became near-impossible when Rebin Sulaka was sent off in the 13th minute for denying Sadio Mané a clear scoring chance. A second-half blitz followed: Ismaila Sarr, a Pape Gueye double off the bench and Iliman Ndiaye completed the rout. The big win lifted Senegal's goal difference to +2 and carried the Lions of Teranga into the knockout rounds as one of the best third-placed teams, while a winless Iraq were eliminated.
Lions of Teranga Roar Into the Knockouts
Senegal arrived in Toronto knowing the equation: after back-to-back narrow defeats to France and Norway, only a big win — and a healthy boost to their goal difference — would give them a realistic chance of progressing as one of the eight best third-placed teams. They delivered emphatically, and they barely needed the helping hand Iraq gave them inside the opening quarter of an hour.
Pape Thiaw's side made the perfect start, taking the lead inside four minutes — their earliest goal in World Cup history — when Abdoulaye Seck flicked a corner goalwards and Habib Diarra applied the decisive touch. Then came the moment that broke Iraq: in the 13th minute, Rebin Sulaka hauled down Sadio Mané 20 yards from goal. Referee Anthony Taylor initially produced a yellow, but a VAR review upgraded it to red for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity. It made Iraq only the second team in World Cup history to concede a goal and receive a red card inside the opening 15 minutes, after Colombia against Japan in 2018.
Senegal were patient before the floodgates opened after the break. Ismaila Sarr swept in Lamine Camara's cut-back for his third goal of the tournament, then substitute Pape Gueye took over: he curled in a beauty just 89 seconds after coming on, and thumped in a second — clocked at 132 km/h — twelve minutes later. Iliman Ndiaye completed the scoring with a fine solo effort. Mané rattled the post in between, and only a string of saves from substitute goalkeeper Jalal Hassan kept the margin to five.
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Senegal flew out of the blocks. From a corner, Abdoulaye Seck nodded the ball goalwards and Habib Diarra got the telling final touch to put the Lions of Teranga ahead inside four minutes — their earliest goal in World Cup history.
13
Iraq
🟥 RED CARD — Iraq Down to 10
Sulaka Sent Off for Denying Mané
Iraq's afternoon unravelled in the 13th minute. Rebin Sulaka pulled Sadio Mané to ground 20 yards out and was initially shown yellow, but referee Anthony Taylor upgraded it to red after a VAR review for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity — leaving Iraq a man down for over 75 minutes.
HT
Senegal
⏸ Half Time — Senegal 1-0 Iraq
One Goal, But Plenty in Reserve
Despite the early goal and the man advantage, Senegal led by just one at the break, with chances at a premium against a deep-lying Iraq. The visitors were also forced into a goalkeeping change, Jalal Hassan replacing the injured Ahmed Basil at the interval.
56
Senegal
⚽ GOAL — Senegal 2-0 Iraq
Ismaila Sarr Doubles the Lead
The second-half blitz began just before the hour. Lamine Camara won the ball and delivered a clever cut-back, and Ismaila Sarr was on hand to fire home his third goal of the tournament. Assist: Lamine Camara.
59
Senegal
⚽ GOAL — Senegal 3-0 Iraq
Instant Impact From Pape Gueye
Barely 89 seconds after coming off the bench, Pape Gueye made his mark, curling a gorgeous effort beyond Jalal Hassan to make it three. A dream introduction from the substitute.
71
Senegal
🏆 GOAL — Senegal 4-0 Iraq
Gueye's Thunderbolt Makes It Four
Pape Gueye was at it again, this time thumping home a fierce strike — clocked at a top speed of 132 km/h — for his second goal in twelve minutes. Iliman Ndiaye provided the assist as Senegal's goal difference climbed. Assist: Iliman Ndiaye.
75
Senegal
🪵 Mané Rattles the Post
So Nearly a Sixth
Sadio Mané, who had won the early red card, came within inches of getting on the scoresheet himself, rattling the right-hand upright with a looping effort as Senegal pressed for more.
82
Senegal
⚽ GOAL — Senegal 5-0 Iraq
Iliman Ndiaye Caps the Rout
The fifth was a fitting finish to a dominant display. Iliman Ndiaye ran 20 yards before thumping another cracker home, with Pape Gueye turning provider to complete the scoring.
FT
Senegal
⏹ Full Time — Senegal 5-0 Iraq
Mission Accomplished for the Lions
A five-star display lifts Senegal to a +2 goal difference and into the knockout rounds as one of the best third-placed teams. Iraq, beaten heavily and reduced to ten men, exit the World Cup without a point.
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Diarra's 4th-minute goal was Senegal's earliest ever at a World Cup
Unwanted Record
Iraq: 2nd team in WC history to concede & be reduced to 10 inside 15 mins (after COL–JPN 2018)
Outcome
Senegal advance as a best third-placed team · Iraq eliminated winless
Venue
Toronto Stadium · Toronto, Canada · June 26, 2026
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Goalkeeper Spotlight
🧤 Mory Diaw — A Clean Sheet on a Routine Afternoon
Senegal GK · Clean Sheet · Last 32 Sealed
Conceded
0
A comfortable clean sheet
Saves
1
Barely tested by 10-man Iraq
On Target Faced
1
Iraq's only effort on goal
Result
5–0
Senegal into the knockouts
With Senegal dominant and Iraq reduced to ten men for most of the match, Mory Diaw was a virtual spectator — but a clean sheet is a clean sheet, and the Senegal goalkeeper stayed switched on throughout to ensure the scoreline remained one-sided. His real value on the night lay in his composure and distribution as Senegal built from the back, helping his side dictate the tempo of a game they needed to win emphatically. On nights like these the goalkeeper's job is concentration over heroics, and Diaw did exactly what was required to keep his sheet clean as the Lions roared into the last 32.
Jalal Hassan — Iraq's Defiant Substitute Keeper
The busiest goalkeeper on the pitch arrived only at half time. With Ahmed Basil forced off injured, Jalal Hassan was thrown into a thankless situation — a man down and already behind — and proceeded to produce the individual performance of the night for Iraq. He made five saves after the restart, including a brilliant diving stop to deny Iliman Ndiaye what looked a certain goal, and was the sole reason the scoreline did not balloon further. On a chastening evening for Iraq, who exit the tournament winless, Hassan's defiant cameo was a rare bright spot.
🧤
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MF · Senegal · Two goals & an assist off the bench
9.0
IS
Ismaila Sarr
FW · Senegal · Goal & his 3rd of the tournament
8.0
IN
Iliman Ndiaye SUB IMPACT
FW · Senegal · Goal and an assist off the bench
7.8
SM
Sadio Mané TALISMAN
FW · Senegal · Won the red card, hit the post
7.6
HD
Habib Diarra
MF · Senegal · Opened the scoring inside four minutes
7.5
JH
Jalal Hassan BEST FOR IRAQ
GK · Iraq · Five saves off the bench
6.8
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Group I Standings
Group I Final Standings — After Matchday 3
#
Team
P
W
D
L
GD
Pts
1
🇫🇷 France
3
3
0
0
+8
9
2
🇳🇴 Norway
3
2
0
1
+1
6
3
🇸🇳 Senegal
3
1
0
2
+2
3
4
🇮🇶 Iraq
3
0
0
3
-11
0
Two narrow defeats had left them on the brink. But when Senegal needed goals — and plenty of them — to stay alive, the Lions of Teranga answered with five, and a place in the last 32 was theirs.
Elite Sport Editorial Analysis · Group I · FIFA World Cup 2026 · Toronto · June 26
What This Means Going Forward
🇸🇳
Senegal — Through the Back Door, but Through
A ruthless five-goal display rescued Senegal's campaign, lifting them to a +2 goal difference and a place in the Round of 32 as one of the best third-placed teams. Pape Thiaw's side, packed with quality, now face Belgium in the knockout rounds.
📅 Belgium vs Senegal — Round of 32
🇮🇶
Iraq — Out Without a Point
Defeat ended Iraq's first World Cup since 1986 without a single point, undone here by an early goal and a costly red card. There were positives across the tournament for a developing side — not least goalkeeper Jalal Hassan's late resistance — but plenty to build on.
📅 Tournament over — eliminated at the group stage
Conclusion
Senegal 5-0 Iraq. A result that rescued a faltering campaign in the most emphatic style. Needing goals to climb into the best third-placed places, the Lions of Teranga delivered five — helped enormously by Iraq's early red card, but ruthless all the same once the second-half blitz began. Pape Gueye's two-goal cameo stole the headlines, with Habib Diarra, Ismaila Sarr and Iliman Ndiaye also on target.
For Iraq, a first World Cup in 40 years ends in disappointment and without a point, the early dismissal of Rebin Sulaka proving decisive on the night. There was at least the consolation of Jalal Hassan's defiant goalkeeping. Senegal, meanwhile, live to fight another day — and with the talent at their disposal, few will relish facing them in the knockout rounds.
Follow Elite Sportthroughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup for full match reports, goalkeeper ratings, and complete coverage of all nine sponsored athletes on the world stage — only at elitesportkeepers.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Senegal beat Iraq 5-0 in their final Group I match at Toronto Stadium on June 26. Habib Diarra (4'), Ismaila Sarr (56'), Pape Gueye (59', 71') and Iliman Ndiaye (82') scored, with Iraq reduced to ten men by a 13th-minute red card.
In the 13th minute, Rebin Sulaka brought down Sadio Mané around 20 yards from goal. Initially shown a yellow card, referee Anthony Taylor upgraded it to red after a VAR review for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity, leaving Iraq a man down for the rest of the match.
Yes. The 5-0 win lifted Senegal to three points and a +2 goal difference, third in Group I behind France and Norway. That was enough to qualify as one of the eight best third-placed teams, setting up a Round of 32 meeting with Belgium.
Yes. Defeat confirmed Iraq's elimination. They finished bottom of Group I without a point on their first World Cup appearance since 1986, losing all three of their group matches.
Senegal Vs Iraq: Fifa World Cup 2026 Match Report
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