World Cup 2026 · Group I
Senegal vs Iraq Prediction
Friday, June 26 · 3:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM PT · 19:00 GMT
Senegal
Iraq
Senegal vs Iraq: the preview
Senegal meet Iraq in Group I of the 2026 World Cup, kicking off Friday, June 26 at 3:00 PM Eastern across the United States, Canada, Mexico host nations. Senegal are a CAF side whose best run is quarter-finals on their 2002 debut. Iraq come in as a AFC nation, best known for group stage in 1986.
No recent finished data on Senegal in this competition — the model leans on league averages. The model projects 1.57 expected goals for Senegal and 1.29 for Iraq (Dixon–Coles-corrected Poisson, 40-day form half-life, strength-of-schedule adjusted). Probabilities: 43% Senegal, 28% draw, 30% Iraq. Senegal are favoured but it's not a banker — Double Chance reduces the risk.
Our Senegal vs Iraq prediction
The model's lean is Home Win with a most-likely scoreline of 1-1 (43% confidence). It projects roughly 2.85 total goals, with Over 2.5 at 54% and both teams to score at 59%. As always these are probabilities, not certainties — team news and tournament pressure can swing a knockout night.
Compare it against the rest of the slate on our World Cup 2026 predictions page, or read up on Senegal and Iraq ahead of kickoff.