Iraq World Cup campaign came to a disappointing end on Friday after Senegal claimed a convincing 5-0 victory in Toronto. The result eliminated Iraq from the tournament and strengthened Senegal’s hopes of reaching the Round of 32. Meanwhile, France secured first place in Group I with another impressive win, while Norway also advanced despite losing their final group match.
Iraq returned to the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1986. However, the team struggled throughout the group stage. Earlier defeats against Norway and France left Graham Arnold’s side with little room for error. Therefore, Iraq needed a victory over Senegal to keep its slim qualification hopes alive.
Senegal quickly took control of the match. Habib Diarra opened the scoring and gave his team an early advantage. Soon afterward, Iraq faced another setback. Rebin Sulaka received a red card after bringing down Sadio Mane during a clear scoring opportunity. As a result, Iraq had to play with ten men for the remainder of the match.
Senegal used the numerical advantage effectively after halftime. Ismaila Sarr doubled the lead and increased the pressure on Iraq. Then, substitute Pape Gueye scored twice to put the result beyond doubt. Finally, Iliman Ndiaye completed the scoring with a long-range strike that sealed an emphatic victory.
The win earned Senegal their first three points of the tournament. Consequently, the African side improved its chances of advancing as one of the tournament’s best third-placed teams. At the same time, Iraq World Cup campaign officially ended without collecting a single point in Group I.
Elsewhere, France continued its impressive form with a 4-1 victory over Norway in Boston. Didier Deschamps rotated little and watched his side dominate from the opening whistle. Ousmane Dembele produced a brilliant first-half hat-trick and gave France complete control before the break.
Norway rested several key players after securing qualification earlier in the week. Erling Haaland, Martin Odegaard, and Alexander Sorloth all started on the bench. Although Thelo Aasgaard scored to reduce the deficit, France quickly restored its three-goal advantage. Desire Doue added the fourth goal during stoppage time to complete another commanding performance.
France finished the group stage with three victories and nine points. As a result, the team advanced to the Round of 32 as Group I winners. Norway finished second with six points despite the defeat. The Scandinavian side will now prepare for a knockout clash against Ivory Coast.
Although Iraq leaves the tournament with difficult memories, the team’s qualification marked an important milestone. The appearance ended a 40-year absence from football’s biggest competition. While the results disappointed supporters, the experience could provide valuable lessons for the future. Players, coaches, and fans will now look ahead and hope the Iraq World Cup campaign becomes the foundation for stronger performances in upcoming international competitions.
