After the defeat against Norway (3-2), Senegal is still in the race for qualification to the Round of 16 in the 2026 World Cup. The situation remains open for the Lions of Teranga, who now must approach the final day with a clear goal: to win against Iraq. A victory is essential to keep their hopes alive of being among the best third-placed teams in the tournament. The fate of the team will also depend on results from other groups, with several scenarios still possible.
The early results from the third day have provided a relatively favorable context for Senegal. In Scotland’s group, their heavy loss to Brazil (3-0) directly impacted the standings of the third-placed teams. The Scots finish with 3 points and a goal difference of -3. In this setup, a win for Senegal, even by the narrowest margin, would allow Serigne Saliou Dia’s men to move ahead of this team in the ranking of the best third-placed teams, which is crucial in the qualification race.
The situation looks tougher against South Korea. After losing to South Africa (1-0), the South Koreans also finish with 3 points, but with a goal difference of -1, which is better than Scotland’s. To surpass them, Senegal must not only win against Iraq but also do so by at least two goals. This requirement adds another layer of complexity to the upcoming match, where offensive management could be key in determining the final standings.
In this context, the various standings from other groups take on particular importance. Senegal must not only do their job on the pitch but also hope for unfavorable results for other third-placed teams. Several configurations remain possible, especially depending on the still undecided groups. The margin for maneuver is narrow, but not nonexistent, keeping the interest alive around the ongoing qualification calculations.
Bosnia temporarily takes 1st place among the 3rd placed teams with 4 points!
There are still 7 spots available for Senegal 🇸🇳 #wiwsport #Senegal #WorldCup2026 pic.twitter.com/2WNoXJKsg0— wiwsport (@wiwsport) June 24, 2026
Attention is particularly focused on groups E and G, as their dynamics could influence the final ranking of the best third-placed teams. In group E, Germany leads with 6 points, followed by Ivory Coast with 3 points, while Ecuador and Curaçao each have 1 point. In group G, Egypt is at the top with 4 points, followed by Iran and Belgium with 2 points, while New Zealand sits at the bottom with 1 point. The scenario remains conditioned by multiple variables, but a win against Iraq is the essential prerequisite for Senegal, who will then need to hope for generally favorable results to continue their World Cup journey.
