Senegal 5–0 Iraq | World Cup Group Stage | 26 June 2026

Result Summary

Senegal delivered a commanding, near-flawless performance at the 2026 World Cup, dismantling Iraq 5–0 in what proved to be a comprehensive statement victory. Pape Gueye was the standout with a brace, while goals from Mouhamadou Diarra, Ismaïla Sarr, and Iliman Ndiaye completed the rout. Iraq's task was made monumentally harder when they were reduced to ten men inside the first quarter of an hour, and they never recovered.

Match Analysis

Senegal were fast out of the blocks, with Mouhamadou Diarra breaking the deadlock in just the 4th minute, converting a right-foot shot assisted by Abdoulaye Seck. The early goal set the tone, but the match's defining moment came shortly after — in the 12th minute, a VAR review confirmed that Rebin Ghareeb Sulaka Adhamat had denied an obvious goalscoring opportunity with a professional foul, resulting in a red card at the 13th minute. Iraq, already a goal down, were now facing eighty minutes with ten men.

Under coach Graham Arnold, Iraq reorganised quickly, forcing an early substitution as Ahmed Qasem made way for Manaf Younis Hashim Al Tekreeti in the 16th minute. Despite the reshuffle, Senegal's statistical dominance told its own story: 69% ball possession, 28 total shots to Iraq's 6, and a remarkable 90 dangerous attacks compared to Iraq's 15. Pape Bouna Thiaw's side were relentless in their pressure.

The second half opened up decisively. A flurry of Senegal substitutions at the 57th and 58th minutes injected fresh energy — Pape Gueye, Iliman Ndiaye, Nicolas Jackson, and Pathé Ciss all entered the fray — and the impact was immediate. Ismaïla Sarr made it 2–0 in the 56th minute from a Lamine Camara assist, and then within three minutes, Pape Gueye added a third with his left foot, set up by Sarr. The game was effectively over.

Gueye then doubled his personal tally in the 71st minute, finishing another left-foot effort assisted by Iliman Ndiaye, before Ndiaye himself got on the scoresheet in the 82nd minute — a fine exchange of assists between the two, with Gueye returning the favour. Senegal's passing precision, recorded at 88% successful pass completion, underpinned the entire performance, while Iraq managed just 69% — a gulf that reflected the two sides' contrasting levels throughout.

Pape Gueye received a yellow card in the 81st minute, one of five bookings in the game, but it did nothing to dampen Senegal's celebration. Assane Diao Diaoune came on late for Ismaïla Sarr, with the result long since beyond doubt.

Prediction Review

Our pre-match forecast called for a Senegal win at 71% probability, with a predicted scoreline of 2–0 and a confidence rating of 63/100. The outcome — a Senegal victory — was correctly predicted, though the margin of 5–0 significantly exceeded the forecast. The red card for Iraq in the 13th minute introduced a variable that naturally accelerated Senegal's dominance, and the second-half substitutions proved transformative in ways difficult to model in advance.

Key Takeaways

• Pape Gueye's double off the bench underlines the depth in Senegal's squad under Pape Bouna Thiaw.
• Iraq's numerical disadvantage proved fatal — conceding four second-half goals with ten men was an impossible challenge.
• Senegal's 12 corners and 24 key passes demonstrate a controlled, multi-dimensional attacking threat that will concern future opponents.
• With this result, Senegal emerge as serious contenders to advance deep in the tournament.