A fourth-minute deflection and a 13th-minute red card turned the Senegal-Iraq World Cup game in Toronto into a survival statement, with Senegal crushing Iraq 5-0 to stay in the race for the round of 32.
Senegal punish Sulaka after Diarra opener
Senegal needed speed and margin, and they found both almost immediately. Abdoulaye Seck’s header from a corner took the decisive touch off Habib Diarra in the 4th minute and beat Iraq goalkeeper Ahmed Basil for a 1-0 lead.
Iraq’s night tilted further nine minutes later when referee Anthony Taylor, after a VAR review, sent off Rebin Sulaka in the 13th minute for pulling down Sadio Mane at the edge of the penalty area as the striker was through on goal. Mane tested Basil from the free-kick, but Pape Thiaw’s side still reached half-time only 1-0 up.
Gueye drives Senegal’s second-half surge
The control became punishment after the break. Zidane Iqbal gave possession away near the box in the 56th minute, Lamine Camara cut the ball back, and Ismaila Sarr finished simply to make it 2-0.
Three minutes later, Pape Gueye curled a left-footed strike into the top corner with his first involvement after coming on. Gueye struck again in the 71st minute with another powerful effort, before fellow substitute Iliman Ndiaye completed the rout in the 82nd minute.
The Pape Gueye stats summed up Senegal’s release: two goals, one assist and a 9.6 rating. The wider numbers were just as one-sided, with Senegal holding 69% possession, outshooting Iraq 27-6, hitting 11 shots on target to Iraq’s 1, and forcing 12 corners to 3.
Senegal climb as Iraq exit the race
The result leaves Senegal third in Group I on 3 points, behind France on 9 and Norway on 6, while Iraq finish bottom without a point. More importantly, Senegal climbed to fifth in the live third-placed ranking, where the top eight of 12 advance.
With 8 goals scored and a +2 goal difference, Senegal now look strongly placed, though not formally through, and must wait for results elsewhere. Iraq’s World Cup is over after three defeats, one goal scored and 12 conceded.
Match Information
Competition: World Cup, Group Stage - 3; Date & Time: Friday 26 June 2026, 21:00 CET; Venue: BMO Field, Toronto; Referee: Anthony Taylor, England.
