Senegal vs Iraq: TV, Lineups and Group I Third-Place Stakes

Senegal vs Iraq is Group I, Match 62, at Toronto Stadium on Friday, June 26, 2026. Kickoff is 3:00 PM in Toronto, 3:00 PM ET and 19:00 UTC. In the United States, start with the FOX Sports schedule for English-language coverage; for Spanish-language coverage, check Telemundo, Universo and Peacock close to kickoff.

The table is blunt: France and Norway have six points each, while Senegal and Iraq have none. Senegal's goal difference is less damaged than Iraq's, but neither side can reach the top two. The target is three points, a better third-place profile and a result that keeps the final day from ending flat.

Senegal have enough experience and athletic balance for this to be more than a farewell match. The problem is that narrow defeats do not help much when the third-place table starts sorting teams across all groups. Senegal need the win first, and then they need to make the scoreline useful rather than merely respectable.

The key is chance volume. Senegal cannot spend long spells waiting for one transition and then hope the table does the rest. They need pressure around Iraq's box, better support after wide entries and enough control behind the attack to stop the game becoming a nervous exchange of clearances.

Iraq have conceded seven across two games, so the first job is to keep the match within reach. If the first half becomes open, Senegal's runners can make the goal-difference problem worse quickly. Iraq need compact distances, cleaner first passes and enough patience to avoid turning every recovery into a hopeful ball forward.

A fast start still matters. If Iraq are level after 30 minutes, the pressure shifts because Senegal know they need a win too. That is the window for Iraq to make the match less about survival and more about one decisive attacking spell.

Norway vs France decides first place at the same time, but it also shapes how Group I is read after full time. A tight top-of-group game keeps attention on goal difference and table order; a wider score can make the third-place comparison feel even harsher for the loser in Toronto.

For Senegal and Iraq, the job is simpler than the surrounding math: win first, then check the third-place tracker. Anything less leaves too much work for other groups to solve.

Do not treat early lineup graphics as final. Once the team sheets land, start with Senegal's attacking balance and Iraq's midfield screen. Extra Senegal runners would suggest they want margin early; extra Iraqi protection in front of the back line would point to a keep-it-alive plan.

The first 15 minutes should tell you a lot. If Iraq can play through the first Senegal press, the match becomes awkward. If they cannot, Senegal should get the repeated entries they need to turn table pressure into chances.

Senegal start with the better goal-difference position and the stronger path to sustained pressure, but Iraq have enough incentive to make the match tense if they survive the opening spell. outlook lean: Senegal create more chances and keep a slim third-place hope alive, 2-1.