Senegal secure dominant 5-0 victory over Iraq in World Cup

By Karan Malhotra — 27 June 2026 — 3 min read

Senegal’s commanding performance

Senegal delivered a decisive 5-0 victory over Iraq, significantly boosting their chances of advancing to the knockout stages of the World Cup. The match, held in Toronto, saw the Lions of Teranga record the largest win by an African nation in a World Cup, keeping their hopes of progression alive after both teams had previously lost to France and Norway in their initial Group I matches.

The West African side made a strong start, taking the lead within four minutes. Habib Diarra of Sunderland got the final touch on a header from Abdoulaye Seck, directing the ball into the Iraqi net. This early goal set the tone for Senegal’s performance.

Iraq faced a further setback when defender Rebin Sulaka was shown a red card in the 12th minute. The initial yellow card was upgraded to a red after a VAR review, as Sulaka was deemed to have denied an obvious goalscoring opportunity by pulling down Sadio Mane. This incident made Iraq only the second team in World Cup history to concede a goal and receive a red card within the opening 15 minutes of a match, a situation previously seen in the 2018 match between Colombia and Japan.

Despite being a man down, Iraq brought on Munaf Younus to reinforce their defense. For a period, Senegal struggled to capitalize on their advantage, with Mane‘s free-kick being brilliantly saved by Iraqi goalkeeper Basil, and little further threat posed for the remainder of the first half.

Second-half surge secures victory

The second half saw Senegal break Iraq‘s resistance with a flurry of goals. Ten minutes after the break, substitute goalkeeper Jalal Hassan was beaten twice in quick succession. Ismaila Sarr of Crystal Palace tapped in a pull-back from Lamine Camara. Just 89 seconds later, Pape Gueye, who had recently been introduced into the game, curled in a goal to further extend Senegal‘s lead.

Gueye continued his impactful performance, scoring a second goal with a powerful strike. Shortly after, Sadio Mane hit the crossbar with a looping effort. The scoring was completed by Iliman Ndiaye of Everton, who added another goal, leaving Hassan with no chance.

The emphatic victory was crucial for Senegal, as they knew a significant win was necessary to improve their chances of qualifying as one of the top eight third-placed teams. The result means Pape Thiaw‘s side has given themselves the best possible chance of progressing to the next stage of the tournament.

Implications for the knockout stages

With this win, Senegal has put themselves in a strong position to advance to the Round of 32. As things currently stand, with 11 group games remaining, they are projected to face England in the next round. The team’s performance, particularly their attacking intent in the second half, suggests they are well-prepared for the challenges ahead.

The team’s manager, Pape Thiaw, saw his side get off to a flying start in Toronto, and the subsequent goals ensured a comfortable win. The comprehensive nature of the victory, especially after a somewhat subdued end to the first half, highlights Senegal‘s ability to capitalize on opportunities and maintain pressure.

The result means Iraq‘s hopes of reaching the World Cup knockout stages have ended. Senegal‘s focus now shifts to the upcoming knockout matches, with the official standings expected to be finalized by Sunday morning in the UK.