World Cup 2026: Senegal Rout 10-Man Iraq 5-0 in Group I

Five-star Senegal book a last-32 ticket in Toronto

At the World Cup 2026, Senegal turned their decisive Group I fixture into a procession, sweeping aside Iraq 5-0 at BMO Field in Toronto under cloudy skies and a mild 22°C. The scoreline tells the story of total control, but the numbers underline it: Senegal held 69% possession against 31%, mustered an expected goals (xG, the quality of chances created) figure of 3.01 to Iraq's 0.14, and fashioned five big chances to none.

The complexion of the night was set early. Senegal struck inside four minutes, then watched Iraq reduced to ten men on 13 minutes, and from there the contest tilted irreversibly. Twelve shots on target to one, 517 successful passes to 184, twelve corners to three — every column favoured the team in green and white. Iraq goalkeeper was kept busy with seven saves, a tally that flatters the margin only slightly.

The result carries weight beyond the highlight reel. Senegal finish third in Group I on three points with a goal difference of plus two, and crucially sit seventh among the third-placed sides — enough, provisionally, to reach the Round of 32. Iraq, with no points and a goal difference of minus eleven, are out.

How Senegal and Iraq lined up at BMO Field

From a 4th-minute strike to Gueye's brace off the bench

Senegal needed barely four minutes to land the first blow, H. Diarra finishing from an A. Seck assist to settle any nerves. The afternoon then pivoted on the 13th minute, when R. Sulaka was shown a red card, forcing Iraq into a long, outnumbered rearguard that began with a reshuffle just three minutes later.

The second half is where the floodgates opened. I. Sarr doubled the lead on 56 minutes after L. Camara's pass, and within a triple Senegalese substitution the next goal arrived: P. Gueye, fresh from the bench, struck on 59 minutes courtesy of Sarr's assist. Gueye wasn't done — he added his second on 71 minutes, set up by I. Ndiaye, before returning the favour and teeing up Ndiaye to complete the five on 82 minutes.

Discipline frayed only mildly amid the rout. Seck and later Gueye were booked for Senegal, while Iraq picked up cautions for A. Al Ammari and, deep into stoppage time, M. Doski. England's Anthony Taylor refereed.

Right team, wrong margin: futbol.so under-called this one

The futbol.so community reached a clear consensus on the winner, leaning firmly towards Senegal, with the most-chosen scoreline a tidy Senegal 2-0. That call nailed the outcome and the clean sheet — it simply didn't anticipate the avalanche that followed Iraq's early red card.

By country, the lean stayed Senegalese even where the chosen scoreline didn't: fans in Colombia and Argentina flirted with narrow Iraq results, while Spain echoed the 2-0 consensus. The official forecast, meanwhile, made Senegal comfortable favourites and landed the exact result, a 5-0, in line with the providers' projection. The community read the story correctly; reality just wrote a far bolder ending.

Video highlights

Il Senegal travolge l’Iraq con unastorica manita e sogna i sedicesimi 👋

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Pape Gueye Goal | Senegal 5-0 Iraq | FIFA World Cup 2026™

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Résumé : SÉNÉGAL - IRAK, OBJECTIF IMPOSSIBLE ? (J3)

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Senegal vs Irak (5-0) | Resumen y goles | Highlights Copa Mundial de la FIFA 2026™

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MANITA storica, ora il Senegal sogna i sedicesimi: Senegal-Iraq 5-0 | FIFA World Cup | DAZN

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Senegal 🆚 Iraq #FIFAWorldCupOnYT #shorts #fifaworldcup

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Post-Match Player Interviews: Senegal 5-0 Iraq

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HIGHLIGHTS - Senegal v Iraq | History Made! | FIFA World Cup 2026

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World Cup: Senegal vs Iraq

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World Cup: Senegal vs Iraq

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World Cup: Senegal vs Iraq

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World Cup: Senegal vs Iraq

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World Cup: Senegal vs Iraq

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Senegal leave Toronto with momentum and, provisionally, a place in the Round of 32 as one of the eight best third-placed teams — a status that still hinges on results elsewhere finishing as expected. Pape Gueye's venomous double off the bench will dominate the post-match talk, but the collective performance, from xG to possession, was the real statement. Iraq's tournament, sadly, ends here. Attention now turns to which last-32 path opens up for a Senegal side that timed its best display to perfection.