Senegal World Cup Triumph
Senegal Routs 10-Man Iraq 5-0, Boosting World Cup Knockout Stage Chances
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Senegal crushed 10-man Iraq 5-0 on Thursday in Toronto, keeping their World Cup alive. The Lions of Teranga had zero points entering the match. Now they have three, with a +2 goal difference — and a 94% chance of reaching the knockout round, according to Opta via The Guardian.
The rout — Senegal's biggest ever win at a World Cup — was played in front of 43,036 fans at BMO Field. Iraq, making their first World Cup appearance since 1986, finished with zero points and a -11 goal difference and are officially eliminated TSN.
Red Card in Minute 13 Broke the Match Open
Iraqi defender Rebin Sulaka was sent off in the 13th minute for fouling Sadio Mané. Referee Anthony Taylor first showed a yellow card. But VAR overturned the call, upgrading it to red. Sulaka had denied an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. Iraq played the final 77 minutes with 10 men The Guardian.
Habib Diarra had already put Senegal ahead in the 4th minute with a close-range finish off a corner. But despite dominating possession at 58%, Senegal could not add to their lead before halftime. Iraqi substitute goalkeeper Jalal Hassan replaced an injured Ahmed Basil at the break and made six saves in the second half alone TSN.
Pape Gueye Comes Off the Bench, Scores Twice in 12 Minutes
The second half was a different story. Ismaïla Sarr made it 2-0 in the 56th minute, tapping in a low cross from Lamine Camara. Then substitute Pape Gueye entered the pitch. Just 89 seconds later, he scored a long-range strike to make it 3-0 Associated Press.
Gueye struck again in the 71st minute from the edge of the box — 4-0. Iliman Ndiaye added a fifth in the 82nd minute with another long-range effort. Gueye won Man of the Match. Statistical platform Sofascore gave him a near-perfect 9.9 rating Sky Sports.
Senegal Now Waits on Eight Best Third-Place Teams
Senegal finished third in Group I behind France (9 points) and Norway (6 points). Under the 2026 World Cup's 48-team format, the eight best third-place finishers advance to the Round of 32. Senegal currently sits fifth among those third-place teams CP24.
Coach Pape Thiaw said after the match: "We knew we had to turn things around. Today wasn't just about winning; it was about survival through goals." If Senegal advances, they could face England, based on current bracketology projections The Guardian.
Iraq's Return to the World Cup Ends After 40-Year Absence
Iraq had not played at a World Cup since 1986 — a 40-year wait. They qualified through the inter-confederation playoff. Their campaign ended with three losses, zero points, and a -11 goal difference. Coach Graham Arnold now faces a review of his tenure by the Iraqi Football Association.
Despite the heavy defeat, Iraq's return is seen as a step forward for Asian football. Iraqi media focused largely on the VAR red card decision, arguing it "killed the game" before it had a chance to develop. Arnold had said before the match: "The pressure is all on Senegal" — but the final score told a different story TSN.
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