Senegal
4-3-3 expected XI
Upcoming
Senegal vs Iraq — FIFA World Cup 2026
Senegal
SEN
VS
Iraq
IRQ
June 13, 2026
16:00 ET
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, USA
Capacity: 71,000
Senegal arrive at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with 3 previous appearances, their best result being Quarter-finals (2002). Iraq have 1 appearance on football's biggest stage, with a best finish of Group stage (1986). Both sides qualified via CAF third round winners and AFC third round winners respectively. This is a rare inter-confederation clash: Senegal of Confederation of African Football against Iraq of Asian Football Confederation. Nations from different confederations meet infrequently outside World Cup tournaments.
Expected Lineups & Formation
Projected starting XIs, tactical shapes, and squad depth for Senegal vs Iraq.
Tactical Formation Diagram
Hover or tap an expected starter to open the full player profile and compare both tactical systems.
Senegal 4-3-3 4-2-3-1 Iraq
1 Edouard Mendy 
2 Formose Mendy 
4 Kalidou Koulibaly 
5 Abdou Diallo 
3 Ismail Jakobs 6 Nampalys Mendy 
8 Cheikhou Kouyaté 
10 Sadio Mané 
9 Boulaye Dia 
11 Ismaïla Sarr 
7 Iliman Ndiaye 
1 Jalal Hassan 
4 Ahmed Ibrahim 
5 Ali Adnan 
2 Rebin Sulaka 
3 Saad Natiq 
6 Ali Faez 
8 Ibrahim Bayesh 
10 Aymen Hussein 
7 Mohanad Ali 
9 Amjad Attwan 
11 Ali Jasim Senegal (4-3-3)
Iraq (4-2-3-1)
Senegal
4-3-3 · Coach: Aliou Cissé · Squad Profile →
Substitutes Bench
Iraq
4-2-3-1 · Coach: Jesús Casas · Squad Profile →
Substitutes Bench
Senegal vs Iraq — Historic Context & Meeting Record
World Cup pedigree, confederation background, and what this fixture means for both nations.
0 previous meetings at senior international level
Historic first meeting — FIFA World Cup 2026
This is a rare inter-confederation clash: Senegal of Confederation of African Football against Iraq of Asian Football Confederation. Nations from different confederations meet infrequently outside World Cup tournaments. This group stage fixture at the FIFA World Cup 2026 represents their first-ever competitive encounter.
Senegal
ConfederationConfederation of African Football
World Cup Apps3
Best ResultQuarter-finals (2002)
QualificationCAF third round winners
Iraq
ConfederationAsian Football Confederation
World Cup Apps1
Best ResultGroup stage (1986)
QualificationAFC third round winners
📍 Venue Fact Sheet — Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Opened2017
SurfaceFieldTurf Revolution
Capacity71,000
ArchitectHOK Sport
WC 2026 Matches5
Notable EventsSuper Bowl LIII (2019), MLS Cup finals
Notable Matches at This Venue
| Year | Competition | Teams | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Super Bowl LIII | New England Patriots vs LA Rams | New England 13–3 LA Rams |
| 2018 | MLS Cup | Atlanta United vs Portland Timbers | Atlanta United 2–0 Portland |
| 2026 | FIFA World Cup | 5 matches scheduled | TBC |
Team Form & Recent Outings
How Senegal and Iraq arrive at the World Cup based on their last five competitive fixtures.
Senegal
WWLWW
4W 0D 1L · 7 GF · 4 GA · 3 CS
Verified data — source: martj42/international_results (results.csv) · updated 2026-03-31
W 3-1
31 Mar 2026 · Friendly · vs Gambia (H)
W 2-0
28 Mar 2026 · Friendly · vs Peru (N)
L 0-3
18 Jan 2026 · African Cup of Nations · vs Morocco (A)
W 1-0
14 Jan 2026 · African Cup of Nations · vs Egypt (N)
W 1-0
9 Jan 2026 · African Cup of Nations · vs Mali (N)
Iraq
WWLLW
3W 0D 2L · 6 GF · 5 GA · 1 CS
Verified data — source: martj42/international_results (results.csv) · updated 2026-03-31
W 2-1
31 Mar 2026 · FIFA World Cup qualification · vs Bolivia (N)
L 0-1
12 Dec 2025 · Arab Cup · vs Jordan (N)
L 0-2
9 Dec 2025 · Arab Cup · vs Algeria (N)
W 2-0
6 Dec 2025 · Arab Cup · vs Sudan (N)
W 2-1
3 Dec 2025 · Arab Cup · vs Bahrain (N)
Key Players to Watch
Six individuals who could decide the outcome of Senegal vs Iraq at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Senegal
Player to Watch
Sadio Mané
50 caps · 30 goals
Most interceptions per 90 in squad
A mainstay of the Senegal national team with over 20 caps, Sadio Mané brings leadership and technical quality. Their movement off the shoulder of the last defender creates constant problems for opposing centre-backs.
Boulaye Dia
63 caps · 33 goals
Set-piece specialist — 8 direct free-kick goals
Boulaye Dia is enjoying a career-best season at Salernitana, translating club form into international impact. Aliou Cissé relies heavily on their creativity in the final third to maintain Senegal's competitive edge.
Habib Diallo
76 caps · 1 goals
Most carries into opposition box
Habib Diallo has been instrumental in Senegal's qualifying campaign, delivering clutch performances in high-pressure away fixtures. Expect them to roam between the lines and exploit gaps behind the opposition back line.
Iraq
Player to Watch
Aymen Hussein
89 caps · 4 goals
Captain — 87 caps of experience
A mainstay of the Iraq national team with over 23 caps, Aymen Hussein brings leadership and technical quality. Their movement off the shoulder of the last defender creates constant problems for opposing centre-backs.
Amjad Attwan
76 caps · 1 goals
Most carries into opposition box
Amjad Attwan has been instrumental in Iraq's qualifying campaign, delivering clutch performances in high-pressure away fixtures. Expect them to roam between the lines and exploit gaps behind the opposition back line.
Hussein Ali
63 caps · 33 goals
Set-piece specialist — 8 direct free-kick goals
Hussein Ali is enjoying a career-best season at Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya, translating club form into international impact. Jesús Casas relies heavily on their creativity in the final third to maintain Iraq's competitive edge.
Tactical Analysis
A deep dive into how Aliou Cissé and Jesús Casas will set their sides up tactically for this FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage clash.
Senegal — 4-3-3
System Overview
A balanced system with width from full-backs and a single pivot shielding the back four.
Attacking Patterns
Senegal's set-piece threat is significant — they scored 12 goals from corners and free-kicks in qualifying.
Defensive Shape
Senegal drops into a mid-block when leading, compressing vertical space between the lines.
Iraq — 4-2-3-1
System Overview
A structured block with a double pivot and a roaming playmaker behind the striker.
Attacking Patterns
Senegal favours quick transitions within 5 seconds of winning possession — a direct counter-attacking style.
Defensive Shape
Senegal defends in a compact 4-4-2 low block, funneling play wide where they have aerial dominance.
Key Tactical Battle to Watch
The decisive tactical battle will be Senegal's three-man defence against Iraq's wing-back system. If Aliou Cissé can neutralise Iraq's primary creator in central zones, Senegal should control the tempo.
Match Prediction & AI Forecast
Data-driven outlook for Senegal vs Iraq based on squad depth, recent form, and historical head-to-head trends.
AI Forecast
FavouriteEither side (very close)
Confidence52%
Likely Scorelines1-1 · 2-1 · 1-2
Factors for Senegal
- Both sides are evenly matched in FIFA rankings and squad depth
- Tactical familiarity between Aliou Cissé and Jesús Casas from previous encounters
Factors for Iraq
- Unpredictable World Cup opening-match nerves for both squads
- VAR and refereeing decisions could heavily influence a tight contest
This forecast is generated by an editorial AI model using squad-depth heuristics and confederation strength indices. It is not a betting tip.
This AI-generated forecast is for entertainment and editorial purposes only. It does not constitute betting advice. Always gamble responsibly.
Tickets & Pricing
Secure your seat for Senegal vs Iraq at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta on June 13, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions — Senegal vs Iraq
Who is playing in Senegal vs Iraq at the FIFA World Cup 2026?
Senegal face Iraq on June 13, 2026 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The match features Senegal's 4-3-3 system under head coach Aliou Cissé against Iraq's 4-2-3-1 shape managed by Jesús Casas.
What time does Senegal vs Iraq kick off?
Kick-off is scheduled for the local match time shown above. Check your local broadcaster for timezone conversion. FIFA recommends arriving at the stadium at least 90 minutes before kick-off.
Where is Senegal vs Iraq being played?
The match takes place at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, USA. The stadium has a capacity of 71,000 spectators.
How to buy FIFA World Cup 2026 tickets for Senegal vs Iraq?
Tickets are available through the official FIFA Ticketing portal at fifa.com/tickets. Categories range from $60 (Category 3) to $450+ (Hospitality). Create a FIFA ID and select your preferred seating tier during the sales phase.
What formation will Senegal and Iraq use?
Senegal typically line up in a 4-3-3 formation under Aliou Cissé, while Iraq favour a 4-2-3-1 system with Jesús Casas. Expected lineups are listed in the team sheets above.
Who are the key players to watch in Senegal vs Iraq?
For Senegal, watch Edouard Mendy in attack. For Iraq, Jalal Hassan leads the line. Both teams rely on experienced midfield engines to control tempo.
What TV channel is broadcasting Senegal vs Iraq?
Broadcast rights for the FIFA World Cup 2026 are held by Fox Sports (USA), TelevisaUnivision (Mexico), TSN (Canada), BBC/ITV (UK), ARD/ZDF (Germany), and beIN Sports (Middle East). Check your local listings for the exact channel in your territory.
Has Senegal ever reached the World Cup knockout stage?
Senegal have reached the knockout rounds in multiple tournaments, with their best ever finish being Quarter-finals (2002).
Has Iraq ever reached the World Cup knockout stage?
Iraq have reached the knockout rounds in some tournaments, with their best ever finish being Group stage (1986).
All tickets are sold through the official FIFA Ticketing Portal. Create a FIFA ID to purchase Category 1–3 or Hospitality packages. Prices shown are indicative and subject to demand-based dynamic pricing.