Kinshasa, June 25th, 2026 (CPA). – Senegal and Iraq are set to face off on Friday at Field Stadium in Toronto, Canada, on the third and final match day of Group I of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where they are competing in this tournament. With their backs against the wall following a mixed start, Senegal can no longer afford any mistake. A victory would completely revive Senegal’s hopes for a possible qualification among the eight best third-placed teams. The start of this final phase has turned into a nightmare for the Senegalese, lodged in a particularly tough Group I; Senegal have suffered two consecutive defeats which now leave them with their backs against the wall. An opening defeat to France (1–3) on match day one, followed by a cruel loss to Norway (2–3) on match day two, has seriously complicated their chances of direct qualification. Currently third in the group with zero points, Sadio Mane’s teammates are joint bottom of the table with their opponents today, Iraq. A victory is absolutely essential – and, if possible, by a comfortable margin – if they are to hope to secure a place amongst the best third-placed teams in the competition. The preparation for this crunch match has not been without its challenges. The Lions’ injury list is growing, as first-choice goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, who suffered a ligament injury in the previous match, is a major doubt. It is likely that Mory Diaw will take his place between the posts. Furthermore, four players have missed the most recent team training sessions, forcing the coaching staff to revise their tactical plans ahead of this do-or-die match.
Norway v France: the battle for top spot in the group
It’s a top-of-the-table clash in Group I. Having already qualified for the next round following two flawless performances in their opening matches, France and Norway will battle it out for first place in the group on Friday at 8.00 pm at Boston Stadium. Both teams have six points each. The equation is simple for this match: thanks to their superior goal difference, Les Bleus need only a draw to retain top spot in the group and secure a theoretically more favourable draw for the last 16th round. In contrast, that is the same objective for Erling Haaland’s Norway, who are looking to snatch the top spot from France.ACP/