Senegal kept their World Cup hopes alive in spectacular fashion, hammering Iraq 5-0 at BMO Field in Toronto. Needing a big win after two opening defeats, the Lions of Teranga became the first African side to score five in a match at this tournament, ruthlessly punishing an Iraq team reduced to ten men inside 15 minutes. It was a performance of pace, power and clinical finishing that hauled Senegal back into the race for a best-third-placed berth.
How it unfolded: early opener, a red card and a Gueye brace
Habib Diarra struck inside four minutes to set Senegal on their way, and Iraq's task became near-impossible when Sulaka was sent off on 13 minutes. After the break the floodgates opened: Ismaila Sarr finished on 56 minutes to become Senegal's all-time leading scorer, before substitute Pape Gueye netted twice, on 59 and 71, to make it four. Iliman Ndiaye added the fifth on 82 minutes as Senegal swarmed forward against the ten men, turning total dominance into an emphatic scoreline.
Context: a historic five and a record for Sarr
No African nation had scored five in a single game at this World Cup, and Senegal's response to back-to-back defeats showcased the quality many expected from them before the finals. The night's landmark belonged to Ismaila Sarr, whose strike took him clear as Senegal's all-time leading scorer. Around him, the spread of scorers — from Diarra's opener to Gueye's substitute brace — reflected a front line returning to form at the perfect moment, transforming a faltering campaign into one carrying renewed belief.
The table: Senegal back in the best-third race
Victory moved Senegal to three points and third in Group I (GD plus two), behind group winners France (nine points) and runners-up Norway (six); Iraq finish bottom and exit. Senegal must now await the best-third-placed reckoning, but their transformed goal difference gives them a real chance. Our forecast of over 2.5 goals landed comfortably in a five-goal rout, as a must-win Senegal delivered exactly the open, high-scoring response the numbers anticipated.
What we predicted before the match
🌍 FIFA World Cup · World
Senegal – Iraq Prediction and Betting Tips
Senegal
LLDLW
vs
15:00
26 Jun · Fri
Iraq
LLLDW
Kick-off: 15:00 local (26 Jun) · 19:00 UTCVenue: BMO FieldReferee: A. Taylor
Top forecast + 4 supporting tips
5 picks Top Pick
Total:Over: 2.5Over 2.5 goals60% confidence
1.57odds
A must-attack Senegal against an already-eliminated, leaky Iraq points to a game that clears 2.5 goals.
Back this tip
Win 168%
Senegal to win
1.24 odds
Total Team 1 Over: 1.562%
Senegal over 1.5 goals
1.31 odds
Total Team 2 Under: 1.564%
Iraq under 1.5 goals
1.12 odds
Total:Over: 1.580%
Over 1.5 goals
1.16 odds
Senegal and Iraq meet at BMO Field in a Group I finale that means little in the final standings yet still carries a flicker of hope for Senegal, with both group fixtures kicking off at the same time.
Senegal's last roll of the dice
Senegal arrive pointless after a 1-3 defeat to France and a 2-3 loss to Norway, and their only route onward is a heavy win allied to favourable results among the other third-placed teams across the tournament. The talent is unquestionably there — they carried a genuine threat against Norway and will feel they should have taken more from their two outings — but defensive lapses have cost them dearly. Expect the Lions of Teranga to attack from the first whistle and chase the kind of margin that keeps their campaign alive, throwing numbers forward in a way they have not quite managed so far. They arrive with no major absentees reported.
Iraq already out
Iraq are eliminated after heavy defeats to Norway (1-4) and France (0-3), shipping seven goals across the two games and rarely threatening at the other end. With nothing but pride to play for, they will look to make life awkward for Senegal and frustrate where they can, but a fragile defence faces a long afternoon against opponents compelled to commit everything to attack. For Iraq, it is a chance to sign off with a performance that softens a difficult campaign.
Our forecast: goals as Senegal chase a big win
With Senegal forced onto the front foot and Iraq's defence repeatedly breached, our forecast leans firmly toward goals: the total over 2.5 reads as the value angle. Around it, a Senegal win reflects the clear gulf in quality, Senegal over 1.5 fits their need for a comfortable margin, and Iraq are tipped to stay under 1.5 with little going forward.
Senegal — recent matches
23 Jun 2026Norway2 — 3L
16 Jun 2026France1 — 3L
09 Jun 2026Saudi Arabia0 — 0D
31 May 2026USA2 — 3L
31 Mar 2026Gambia3 — 1W
Iraq — recent matches
22 Jun 2026France0 — 3L
16 Jun 2026Norway1 — 4L
10 Jun 2026Venezuela0 — 2L
04 Jun 2026Spain1 — 1D
29 May 2026Andorra1 — 0W
Squad Availability
✚ Injured ·■ Suspended
Senegal
✚É. Mendy
Iraq
No reported absences
Key Players
Senegal
Sadio ManéLWAl-Nassr · 100+ caps · 40 G
Kalidou KoulibalyCBAl-Hilal · 80+ caps · Captain
Édouard MendyGKAl-Ahli · 35+ caps
Ismaïla SarrRWCrystal Palace · 65+ caps
Nicolas JacksonSTBayern Munich · 20+ caps
Iraq
Aymen HusseinSTAl-Wakrah · 50+ caps · 18 G · Captain
Zidane IqbalCMUtrecht · 10+ caps
Ali Al-HamadiSTIpswich · 15+ caps
Jalal HassanGKAl-Quwa Al-Jawiya
Injuries
Senegal
None reported
Iraq
None reported
Venue · Context
Stadium: BMO Field
Capacity: 45,000
Toronto's BMO Field, expanded for the tournament, is an open-air ground with mild early-summer conditions that suit a high tempo.
Senegal
5–0
Iraq
