Senegal and Iraq face off in the 2026 World Cup on Friday at 8pm (UK time), with both sides hoping for a chance to qualify for the knockout stages.
Both sides come into the game without a point, and slim hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages. Senegal have the slightly better chance, currently sitting third with -3 goal difference. They’ll be relying on three points being enough to be one of the best third-placed sides. Senegal opened the World Cup with a 3-1 defeat to France, holding out well before eventually succumbing. They were then beaten by Norway in their second game, though that was a closer 3-2 defeat.
Iraq sit bottom of the group with -6 goal difference. They’ll have an even tougher chance of making the knockout stages. They ended a long-awaited return to the world stage with a 4-1 defeat to Norway — matching their goals scored and conceded from the entirety of the 1986 World Cup. Things were no easier in the second game, with Iraq beaten 3-0 by France, hampered by a two-hour delay at half-time due to adverse weather.
This will be the first-ever meeting between these two nations.
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Senegal team news
Senegal team news
Pape Thiaw named the same starting lineup in Senegal’s first two games, clearly having a favourite XI. But he might make a change or two to try and better Senegal’s chances of success. The biggest call will be to drop captain Kalidou Koulibaly, who struggled in the opening two games. Mamadou Sarr could be in line to replace him, having started the final pre-tournament friendly in a back four.
There will also be a forced change in goal. Edouard Mendy had to come off against Norway due to injury, and he will miss this game. Mory Diaw will start in goal, having replaced Mendy last time out. The rest of the defence should remain the same. El Hadji Malick Diouf, Moussa Niakhate and Krepin Diatta are expected to join Sarr.
Thiaw is also expected to name the same midfield and attack that he has stuck with. Ismaila Sarr thrived last time out against Norway and will start on the right-wing, with Sadio Mane on the left and Nicolas Jackson through the middle. Idrissa Gueye will start in the No.6, joined in the midfield by Pape Gueye and Lamine Camara.
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Iraq team news
Aymen Hussein had to come off injured midway through the first half against France and is a doubt for this game. Ali Al-Hamadi came in to replace him and may lead the line — having formed a strike partnership with Hussein in the opening match. There is unlikely to be any other changes to the attack though, even with Ali Jasim available following his own injury doubts.
Graham Arnold is likely to continue with the 4-1-4-1 he used last time out, with Zidane Iqbal and Zaid Ismail playing behind Al-Hamadi. Ahmed Qasem and Ibrahim Bayesh are expected to play on the right-wing and left-wing, respectively. Amir Al-Ammari will be the sole holding midfielder.
The defence is unlikely to be chanced either. Ahmed Basil Fadhil replaced Fahad Talib in goal between the first two matches and is expected to retain his spot. Akam Hasem and Zaid Tahseen will likely continue as the centre-back pairing, while Hussein Ali and Merchas Doski start as the full-backs.
Senegal vs Iraq predicted lineups
Senegal (4-3-3): Diaw; Diatta, M Sarr, Niakhate, Diouf; P Gueye, I Gueye, Camara; I Sarr, Jackson, Mane.
Iraq (4-1-4-1): Basil Fadhil; Ali, Tahseen, Hashem, Doski; Al-Ammari; Qasem, Ismail, Iqbal, Bayesh; Al-Hamadi.
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