FIFA World Cup: Five-star Senegal keep World Cup hopes alive and send Iraq home

Senegal dramatically kept their FIFA World Cup 2026 dreams alive on Friday with a commanding 5-0 victory over a 10-man Iraq, marking the first time an African nation has scored five goals in a World Cup match. This crucial win, achieved in Toronto, eliminated Iraq from the tournament and significantly boosted Senegal's chances of progressing to the knockout stage. The Lions of Teranga, having suffered prior losses to group rivals France and Norway, desperately needed a dominant performance to stay in contention. Under the expanded 48-team format of the 2026 World Cup, the top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-placed teams, advance to the Round of 32. Iraq's hopes were dashed early when defender Rebin Sulaka received a red card in the 13th minute, severely hindering their ability to compete against a formidable Senegalese side that capitalized on the numerical advantage in the second half. Now, Senegal (who finished third in Group I with three points and a +2 goal differential) faces an anxious wait for other group stage results to conclude on Saturday to confirm their spot among the top eight third-placed teams. Their progression depends heavily on their goal differential compared to other third-placed nations across all groups. Fans will be eagerly watching to see if Coach Pape Thiaw team has done enough to extend their World Cup journey into the Round of 32.