Senegal’s 2026 World Cup ended in the round of 32, where Belgium beat the Lions of Teranga 3-2 after extra time on 1 July in Seattle. Senegal had reached the knockout stage by finishing third in Group I, one of eight third-placed teams to advance under the 48-team format.
The Lions of Teranga were drawn in Group I alongside France, Norway and Iraq. Senegal opened the group stage against France on 16 June and closed it against Iraq on 26 June.
Senegal’s 2026 World Cup squad
Senegal named a 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup, captained by Kalidou Koulibaly. Coach Aliou Cissé assembled a roster rich in European top-flight talent, including Sadio Mané, Édouard Mendy and Nicolas Jackson.
Goalkeepers
- Édouard Mendy (Al-Ahli)
- Mory Diaw (Le Havre)
- Yehvann Diouf (Nice)
Defenders
- Kalidou Koulibaly (Al-Hilal)
- Moussa Niakhaté (Lyon)
- El Hadji Malick Diouf (West Ham United)
- Mamadou Sarr (Chelsea)
- Krépin Diatta (Monaco)
- Ismaïl Jakobs (Galatasaray)
- Abdoulaye Seck (Maccabi Haifa)
- Antoine Mendy (Nice)
Midfielders
- Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham Hotspur)
- Lamine Camara (Monaco)
- Idrissa Gana Gueye (Everton)
- Bara Sapoko Ndiaye (Bayern Munich)
- Pape Gueye (Villarreal)
- Habib Diarra (Sunderland)
- Pathé Ciss (Rayo Vallecano)
Forwards
- Sadio Mané (Al-Nassr)
- Nicolas Jackson (Bayern Munich)
- Ismaïla Sarr (Crystal Palace)
- Iliman Ndiaye (Everton)
- Assane Diao (Como)
- Bamba Dieng (Lorient)
- Ibrahim Mbaye (Paris Saint-Germain)
- Cherif Ndiaye (Samsunspor)
Senegal’s Group I results
Senegal won once and lost twice in Group I, beating Iraq 5-0 after opening defeats to France and Norway. All three matches are summarised below.
| Match | Date | Venue | Final score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senegal vs France | Tue, 16 June 2026 | MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford (NY/NJ) | France 3-1 Senegal |
| Senegal vs Norway | Mon, 22 June 2026 | MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford (NY/NJ) | Norway 3-2 Senegal |
| Senegal vs Iraq | Fri, 26 June 2026 | BMO Field, Toronto | Senegal 5-0 Iraq |
Senegal and France have history at this stage: Senegal won 1-0 when the sides met in the famous 2002 World Cup opener. The 2026 rematch went the other way, with Kylian Mbappé scoring twice in France’s 3-1 win, according to CBS Sports.
Norway, back at a World Cup after a long absence, beat Senegal 3-2 in matchday two. Senegal then closed the group with a 5-0 win over Iraq, becoming the first African team to score five goals in a single World Cup match.
Final Group I standings
France topped Group I on nine points, with Norway second and Senegal advancing in third on goal difference. Iraq finished bottom without a point.
| Pos | Team | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | France | 3 | 0 | 0 | +8 | 9 |
| 2 | Norway | 2 | 0 | 1 | +1 | 6 |
| 3 | Senegal | 1 | 0 | 2 | +2 | 3 |
| 4 | Iraq | 0 | 0 | 3 | -11 | 0 |
Senegal was the only one of the eight third-placed qualifiers to advance on just three points. That set up a round of 32 meeting with Belgium, who topped Group G.
Round of 32: Senegal’s exit against Belgium
Belgium eliminated Senegal 3-2 after extra time on 1 July in Seattle, completing one of the tournament’s biggest comebacks. Senegal led 2-0 with less than 40 minutes to play before Belgium fought back.
- Habib Diarra put Senegal ahead in the 24th minute.
- Ismaïla Sarr doubled Senegal’s lead in the 51st minute.
- Romelu Lukaku pulled Belgium back into the match in the 86th minute.
- Youri Tielemans equalised in the 89th minute to force extra time.
- Tielemans converted a penalty in stoppage time at the end of extra time (120+5′) to complete Belgium’s comeback.
The result ended Senegal’s 2026 World Cup campaign in the round of 32.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Senegal do in the 2026 World Cup group stage?
Senegal finished third in Group I with three points. They lost to France 3-1 and Norway 3-2, then closed the group with a 5-0 win over Iraq.
Did Senegal advance to the World Cup knockout stage?
Yes. Senegal advanced to the round of 32 as one of the eight best third-placed teams, the only one of the eight to do so with just three points.
How was Senegal eliminated from the 2026 World Cup?
Belgium beat Senegal 3-2 after extra time in the round of 32. The match was played in Seattle on 1 July 2026, with Youri Tielemans scoring the winning penalty in extra time.
Who knocked Senegal out of the 2026 World Cup?
Belgium eliminated Senegal in the round of 32. Senegal led 2-0 before Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans led a comeback for Belgium in the closing minutes and extra time.
What was Senegal’s final Group I standing?
Senegal finished third in Group I, behind France and Norway. Iraq finished bottom of the group without a point.
Sources
- FIFA — Belgium v Senegal Match Centre (Round of 32)
- Wikipedia — 2026 FIFA World Cup Group I
- ESPN — Group I at the 2026 World Cup: Teams, records, stats to know
- ESPN — Belgium 3-2 Senegal match report
- Al Jazeera — Controversial penalty ends Senegal’s FIFA World Cup run against Belgium
- Sky Sports — World Cup 2026: Senegal 5-0 Iraq
- CBS Sports — France vs Senegal live updates, World Cup 2026
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