The 2026 World Cup’s expanded format features 48 teams in 12 groups of four. The top two teams in each group, along with the eight best third-placed teams, advance to a round of 32, so the knockout stage begins before a round of 16. Senegal and Iraq were scheduled to meet in Toronto on June 26, the final match in Group I.
France finished first in Group I with nine points, followed by Norway with six. Senegal placed third with three points, while Iraq finished fourth with none. Senegal’s group results included defeats to France and Norway, followed by a win over Iraq. France beat Senegal 3-1, while Norway won 3-2; the standings listed Senegal’s goal difference at plus two and Iraq’s at minus 11.
France’s 3-0 victory over Iraq in Philadelphia featured two goals by Kylian Mbappé and one by Ousmane Dembélé. A lengthy thunderstorm delay interrupted the match. Before their final group fixture against Senegal, Iraq remained in contention for one of the eight places available to the best third-placed teams.
Qualification calculations in Group I were part of a wider contest among third-placed teams, echoing the stakes in other World Cup fixtures, including the Ecuador-Curazao encounter in Kansas City. Under the expanded format, results across all 12 groups determine which eight third-placed sides join the 24 automatic qualifiers in the round of 32.
