Senegal Demolish Iraq 5-0 to End Group I on a High
Senegal beat Iraq 5-0. As of June 26, 2026, the Lions of Teranga have delivered the most emphatic result of their World Cup cycle — a five-goal rout in their final Group I match at BMO Field in Toronto Match centre vs Iraq — official record.
The scoreline is hard to square with the two matches that preceded it (as of June 26, 2026). Senegal lost 1-3 to France on June 16 at MetLife Stadium. Six days later, they fell 2-3 to Norway, also at MetLife. Two defeats. Seven goals conceded. Then this — five scored, none allowed Match centre vs Iraq — official record.
Coach Pape Thiaw's squad came into the tournament off a difficult run (as of June 26, 2026). Three of their last four matches before the Iraq fixture were losses: to the USA (2-3), France, and Norway Match centre vs Iraq — official record. The 5-0 against Iraq rewrites the mood around this group, even if the group standings may tell a harsher story.
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What the 5-0 Means
This is Senegal's largest margin of victory in the recent trailing window — bigger than the 3-1 over Gambia in March, bigger than the 3-1 over Sudan in January Match centre vs Iraq — official record. In a group that included France and Norway, putting five past Iraq with a clean sheet is a statement about attacking ceiling.
The broader record across the last 12 months reads 14 wins, 7 draws, 8 losses, 52 goals scored and 28 conceded. The talent has always been there. The question was whether it could translate on the World Cup stage. Against Iraq, it did — emphatically (as of June 26, 2026).
The concurrent Group I match on June 26 saw Norway face France at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough Match centre vs Iraq — official record. The final group standings depend on that result, but Senegal did everything they could to fix their goal difference.
The Squad Behind the Result
Pape Thiaw named a 26-player roster for the tournament. The attack is deep. The midfield is experienced. Here is the full squad, broken down by position.
Goalkeepers
- É. Mendy — Al-Ahli Jeddah — 993 NT minutes, 12 appearances (last 12 months) (as of June 26, 2026)
- M. Diaw — Le Havre — 211 NT minutes, 3 appearances (as of June 26, 2026)
- Y. Diouf — Nice — 94 NT minutes, 1 appearance (as of June 26, 2026)
Defenders
- M. Niakhaté — Lyon — 930 NT minutes, 10 appearances (as of June 26, 2026)
- K. Diatta — Monaco — 904 NT minutes, 12 appearances, 1 assist (as of June 26, 2026)
- K. Koulibaly — Al-Hilal Saudi FC — 706 NT minutes, 10 appearances, 1 assist (as of June 26, 2026)
- E. Diouf — West Ham — 669 NT minutes, 11 appearances (as of June 26, 2026)
- M. Sarr — Chelsea — 362 NT minutes, 7 appearances (as of June 26, 2026)
- A. Seck — Maccabi Haifa — 317 NT minutes, 5 appearances, 1 goal (as of June 26, 2026)
- A. Mendy — Nice — 261 NT minutes, 3 appearances (as of June 26, 2026)
Midfielders
- I. Gueye — Everton — 1,018 NT minutes, 12 appearances, 1 assist (as of June 26, 2026)
- S. Mané — Al-Nassr — 901 NT minutes, 11 appearances, 2 goals, 4 assists (as of June 26, 2026)
- P. Gueye — Villarreal — 761 NT minutes, 10 appearances, 3 goals (as of June 26, 2026)
- I. Ndiaye — Everton — 723 NT minutes, 10 appearances, 1 goal, 1 assist (as of June 26, 2026)
- I. Sarr — Crystal Palace — 623 NT minutes, 10 appearances, 4 goals, 1 assist (as of June 26, 2026)
- L. Camara — Monaco — 506 NT minutes, 13 appearances (as of June 26, 2026)
- I. Jakobs — Galatasaray — 419 NT minutes, 8 appearances, 1 assist (as of June 26, 2026)
- P. Sarr — Tottenham — 148 NT minutes, 3 appearances (as of June 26, 2026)
- P. Ciss — Rayo Vallecano — 113 NT minutes, 9 appearances (as of June 26, 2026)
- Bara Ndiaye — Bayern München — 94 NT minutes, 1 appearance (as of June 26, 2026)
- Bara Sapoko Ndiaye
Forwards
- N. Jackson — Bayern München — 685 NT minutes, 10 appearances, 3 goals, 2 assists (as of June 26, 2026)
- Assane Diao — Como — 408 NT minutes, 8 appearances, 1 assist (as of June 26, 2026)
- H. Diarra — Sunderland — 404 NT minutes, 7 appearances, 1 goal (as of June 26, 2026)
- I. Mbaye — Paris Saint Germain — 286 NT minutes, 11 appearances, 2 goals, 1 assist (as of June 26, 2026)
- B. Dieng — Lorient — 41 NT minutes, 4 appearances (as of June 26, 2026)
Key Players to Watch
I. Sarr has been the most prolific scorer in this squad over the past 12 months. Four NT goals and 21 club goals for Crystal Palace. That is 25 goals across both stages. At 623 NT minutes, he is getting on the pitch regularly and producing Match centre vs Iraq — official record (as of June 26, 2026).
S. Mané remains the creative engine. Two goals and 4 assists at NT level. At club level with Al-Nassr, he has 14 goals and 10 assists across 43 appearances — 3,216 minutes of football Match centre vs Iraq — official record. His experience is a stabilizer in a group with France (as of June 26, 2026).
N. Jackson is the forward who ties it together. Three NT goals, 2 assists, and 685 minutes at international level. At Bayern München, he has 11 goals and 4 assists. He is 10 appearances deep with Senegal and still only scratching the surface Match centre vs Iraq — official record (as of June 26, 2026).
P. Gueye at Villarreal has quietly become one of the most productive midfielders in the pool: 3 NT goals from 761 minutes and 5 club goals from 2,916 minutes (as of June 26, 2026).
Group I Context
Senegal's full Group I schedule:
- June 16 — France vs. Senegal — MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford (result: 3-1 to France)
- June 22 — Norway vs. Senegal — MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford (result: 3-2 to Norway)
- June 26 — Senegal vs. Iraq — BMO Field, Toronto (result: 5-0 to Senegal) Match centre vs Iraq — official record
The group also featured France vs. Iraq on June 22 in Philadelphia and Norway vs. France on June 26 in Foxborough. Senegal's fate in the group depends on those results, but the 5-0 scoreline has dramatically improved their goal difference after conceding six in the first two games.
When does Senegal play their first World Cup 2026 group match?
Senegal's Group I opener was on June 16, 2026, against France at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford. They lost 1-3 Match centre vs Iraq — official record.
What is Senegal's record in the 2026 World Cup group stage?
Senegal went 1-0-2 in Group I. They lost 1-3 to France, lost 2-3 to Norway, then beat Iraq 5-0 in the final matchday Match centre vs Iraq — official record. Their group-stage goal record is 8 scored, 6 conceded.
Who are the top scorers in Senegal's World Cup 2026 squad?
I. Sarr leads with 4 NT goals in the last 12 months. N. Jackson and P. Gueye each have 3. S. Mané and I. Mbaye each have 2 Match centre vs Iraq — official record. At club level, I. Sarr has 21 goals for Crystal Palace and B. Dieng has 15 for Lorient (as of June 26, 2026).
How did Senegal beat Iraq 5-0?
Senegal scored five at BMO Field in Toronto on June 26, 2026, keeping a clean sheet against Iraq in their final Group I fixture Match centre vs Iraq — official record. It is the largest winning margin in their recent trailing window.
Why does the 5-0 result matter for Senegal's World Cup campaign?
The scoreline dramatically improved Senegal's goal difference after conceding six goals in losses to France and Norway. It also demonstrated the attacking depth Pape Thiaw has at his disposal — 52 goals scored in the last 12 months across all fixtures Match centre vs Iraq — official record (as of June 26, 2026).