World Cup: Why Senegal and Iraq Haven't Been Eliminated Despite Being on 0 Points

He joined in April 2024, having previously worked at VAVEL as Deputy Editor-in-Chief, where he produced a variety of content, including pieces from press conferences and games. He also won an award for his role as lead editor for the Women's Football section of the online newspaper.

Covering football all across Europe, he has worked at stadiums such as Anfield, Old Trafford, and Dortmund's Signal Iduna Park, as well as having reported at both the 2023 men's and women's Champions League finals in Eindhoven and Istanbul.

He is infatuated with every aspect of football, but likes other sports as well, being an avid coffee-desperate Buffalo Bills supporter from across the pond and a darts' newbie. Sign in to your GiveMeSport account Both Senegal and Iraq head into their final World Cup group-stage fixture this week with qualification for the knockout stages still a strong possibility, despite both nations having lost their opening two games. It has been a massively disappointing summer so far, especially for the Lions of Teranga, who arrived in the USA, Canada and Mexico with a dark-horse reputation.

Having proved their credentials by going all the way to win the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year (before a ruling later handed Morocco the title after Sadio Mane's teammates broke a major rule by protesting the referee's decisions during the final), many onlookers would have expected more than 3-1 and 3-2 defeats to France and Norway.

Meanwhile, Iraq's 3-0 and 4-1 losses against the same opposition have cast even more doubt over their ability to mount a comeback.

Despite that, an explanation has emerged as to how both nations can still rescue their campaigns and reach the knockout stages from zero points.

Given the scale of their defeats, many would assume Senegal and Iraq's hopes of reaching the round of 32 are already over. In most other World Cup groups, that would be true, with Haiti, Turkey, Tunisia and Jordan all eliminated after losing their opening two matches. However, Group I presents a different scenario.

Despite their difficult starts, both Senegal and Iraq still have a pathway to the knockout stages heading into Friday night's final round of fixtures. The reason is simple: the two sides face each other in their final group-stage match, creating what could effectively become a knockout game depending on results elsewhere in the tournament.

On paper, it looks as though both nations can still finish third in their respective groups - but a rule change has ensured that's no longer possible.

Under the expanded 2026 World Cup format, eight of the 12 teams that finish third in their groups will advance to the round of 32. According to FIFA, those teams are ranked first by points earned during the group stage. If teams are level on points, goal difference is used as the first tiebreaker, followed by goals scored if necessary.

As a result, both Senegal and Iraq remain firmly in contention. Victory in their final group match - particularly by a convincing margin - would improve their goal difference and strengthen their chances of claiming one of the tournament's eight best third-placed spots.

As things stand, Senegal are the clear favourites to beat Iraq in their final Group I fixture, keeping alive their hopes of reaching the knockout stages. Should they secure progression to the round of 32, their potential opponents are not yet confirmed.

However, based on the tournament bracket, a third-placed Senegal side would face one of the teams that finishes top of Groups A, B, D, G, K or L. At present, the leaders of those groups are Mexico (Group A), Canada (Group B), the United States (Group D), Egypt (Group G), Colombia (Group K) and England (Group L).