Group I · Matchday 3

SenegalvsIraq

2026-06-26·15:00 localPredictions finalised

Snapshot · 2026-07-14Model 1.0.0Final prediction · locked 26 Jun, 17:12 UTCSenegal·Iraq·Head-to-head →·
Full time · forecast gradedSenegal 5 0 IraqThe locked pre-match forecast has been graded against this result.See the calibration recap →

The forecast

Match-outcome probability

  • Senegal win
    51.3%
  • Draw
    30.1%
  • Iraq win
    18.6%

A 271-point Elo gap frames this as a significant mismatch, yet the model still gives Iraq a 8% probability of a result — enough to make this more than a formality.

Likeliest score1–018.7%
First goal0-15'29.4%
Both teams score32.9%
Over 2.5 goals34.8%
Top scorerDieng6.7%
Expected goals1.6 - 0.5
Loading pitch visualisation...

Why the model says this

Favoring Senegal

  • ·Senegal holds a significant Elo advantage of 271 points over Iraq, contributing to an Elo model probability of 71.6% for a home win.
  • ·Senegal's expected goals (xG) are projected at 1.39, significantly higher than Iraq's 0.54 xG.
  • ·Senegal is ranked 19th globally by FIFA, indicating a likely disparity in perceived strength compared to Iraq, whose ranking is not provided.
  • ·Senegal has won 5 of their last 6 matches, demonstrating strong recent performance.

Favoring Iraq

  • ·While the ensemble model gives Iraq a 15.7% chance, the Elo model is significantly lower at 6.4%, suggesting other models see more potential for Iraq.
  • ·Iraq secured a 2-1 victory in their most recent FIFA World Cup qualification match on 2026-03-31.
  • ·Iraq has scored in 4 of their last 6 matches, including 2 goals in their last World Cup qualifier.

What the model can't fully price

  • ·The model does not adjust for the 2 players carrying fitness doubts across both squads, one of whom is a projected starter.
  • ·The fixture venue is not specified, meaning any potential home advantage or specific pitch conditions are not factored into the probabilities.

Form check

Senegal

Steady

Senegal enters this match in strong form, having secured five wins in their last six outings, including two recent friendly victories where they scored 3 and 2 goals respectively. Their only loss in this period was a 0-3 defeat in the African Cup of Nations.

5 wins in last 6 matches

Iraq

Declining

Iraq's recent form is mixed, with four wins and two losses in their last six matches. They ended a two-match losing streak in the Arab Cup with a 2-1 victory in their most recent FIFA World Cup qualification fixture.

2 losses in their last 3 competitive matches

Analysis

How it plays out

Iraq's balanced setup will need to hold shape against Senegal's direct transition game. The risk for Iraq: getting caught between attacking and defending.

What decides it

Senegal will concede possession willingly and attack in transition. Their defensive block needs to hold without fouling in dangerous areas. Bamba Dieng's 6.7% scoring probability is the highest in this fixture. Containing that output is Iraq's primary defensive task.

Off the pitch

No major off-pitch asymmetries. This one is decided by the football.

The angle

Likely the last World Cup for Idrissa Gueye. Tournament experience at this level is hard to quantify but hard to replace.

Goals & scorelines

Likeliest score 1–0 (18.7%) · xG 1.6 - 0.5

Expected goals

Senegal
1.57
Iraq
0.52

Mean of the Dixon-Coles joint goal distribution. Same fit that produces the most-likely-scoreline list below.

Most likely scorelines

  • 1–0
    18.7%
  • 2–0
    15.2%
  • 0–0
    13.0%
  • 1–1
    10.8%
  • 2–1
    8.0%

From the Dixon-Coles joint Poisson with the low-score correction. Scorelines are listed in probability order; this is a description of the model's distribution, not a recommendation.

Most likely half-time scorelines

  • 0–0
    35.6%
  • 1–0
    27.1%
  • 2–0
    10.8%
  • 0–1
    8.8%
  • 1–1
    7.7%

Same Dixon-Coles fit as the full-time list above, with rates halved to a 45-minute window and the low-score correction applied to that 1st-half block. The 0-0 row sits higher here than at full-time because fewer minutes have elapsed.

Goal totals

  • More than 0.5 goals
    87.1%
  • More than 1.5 goals
    62.5%
  • More than 2.5 goals
    34.8%
  • More than 3.5 goals
    16.0%
  • More than 4.5 goals
    6.1%
  • More than 5.5 goals
    2.0%
  • Both teams score
    32.9%

Each row is the probability the match finishes with more than the listed number of goals. Both-teams-to-score is the probability each side scores at least once. All values are marginals of the Dixon-Coles joint goal grid that produces the scoreline list above — not market lines or any other operator construct.

Event-typed probabilities

  • Senegal clean sheetOpposing team scores zero59.2%
  • Iraq clean sheetOpposing team scores zero20.8%

Derived from the same Dixon-Coles joint distribution as the scoreline list. These are descriptive event probabilities — see CLAUDE.md §3/§4 (formerly COMPLIANCE.md §4.2.7) for the framing the project uses.

Win-margin probability

  • Senegal by 4+
    5.1%
  • Senegal by 3+
    14.9%
  • Senegal by 2+
    34.7%
  • Senegal by 1+
    62.5%
  • Draw
    26.0%
  • Iraq by 1+
    11.5%
  • Iraq by 2+
    2.6%
  • Iraq by 3+
    0.4%
  • Iraq by 4+
    0.1%

Each row is the probability the match ends with the listed margin or larger in that direction. Marginal of the Dixon-Coles joint goal grid; the “by 1+” rows plus the draw row sum to 1.

How the match unfolds

Over 2.5 goals 34.8% · BTTS 32.9%

Game state through the match

0%25%50%75%100%0'15'30'45'60'75'90'
  • Senegal ahead63.1%
  • Level24.8%
  • Iraq ahead12.1%

Probability of each game state at minutes 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90 — derived from two independent thinned-Poisson processes with the Dixon-Coles per-team rates. The three lines always sum to 1 at each minute. The right column shows the state at the match's closing minute.

When the first goal arrives

  • 0–15
    29.4%
  • 15–30
    20.8%
  • 30–45
    14.7%
  • 45–60
    10.3%
  • 60–75
    7.3%
  • 75–90
    5.1%
  • No goal
    12.3%

Probability the match's first goal arrives in each 15-minute window. Homogeneous Poisson with combined rate λ = λh + λa from the Dixon-Coles fit; the seven rows (six windows + no-goal tail) sum to 1.

Half-time / full-time grid

Joint probability of half-time and full-time results
HT ↓ / FT →HSenegal winDDrawAIraq win
HSenegal ahead41.6%3.2%0.4%
DLevel19.9%18.6%5.1%
AIraq ahead1.5%3.1%6.5%

Each cell is P(half-time result, full-time result). All nine cells sum to 1. Derived from a halved-λ Dixon-Coles fit for the first half plus an independent-Poisson second-half convolution.

Comeback probability

  • Senegal trail at HT, avoid defeat at FT
    4.7%
  • Iraq trail at HT, avoid defeat at FT
    3.6%

Joint probability — P(side trailing at half-time AND avoiding defeat at full-time). NOT conditional on trailing at HT. Derived from the same half-time / full-time decomposition that produces the HT/FT grid above; a tied first half is neither a home nor an away comeback opportunity.

Cards

  • Expected yellow cardsMean of the Poisson on total yellow cards.3.45
  • Total yellows over 2.567.0%
  • Total yellows over 3.545.3%
  • Total yellows over 4.526.5%
  • Any red cardP(at least one red card in the match).9.5%

Referee not yet assigned. Using the 2026 pool-mean per-match rate as a placeholder; the model picks up the referee's personal rate once the assignment is published. Total yellow cards modelled as a Poisson with mean equal to two team baselines plus the referee's deviation from the pool mean. Reds are modelled the same way, independently. See /docs/methodology/.

Teams & players

Top scorer: Dieng (6.7%)

Match detail

Senegal

Model-rated key players: Bamba Dieng (FW) — P(scores) 6.7%; Nicolas Jackson (FW) — P(scores) 6.2%; Boulaye Dia (FW) — P(scores) 5.2%.

How they play

Senegal under Pape Thiaw play a transition heavy game with 47% possession. Their likely shape is a 4-2-3-1, though they have also used 4-3-3. They apply moderate pressing intensity (PPDA 21.2) and move the ball forward quickly at 5.3 passes per attack.

What they must execute

Senegal rely on defensive discipline and quick transitions — absorbing pressure and converting turnovers into attacking chances. Concentration and defensive organisation for full 90-minute stretches will determine whether the approach holds against top opposition. Managing minutes for Idrissa Gueye across what could be seven matches will test the coaching staff's rotation planning.

Storylines
Teen starter: wp-bara-sapoko-ndiaye-2007-12-3118 at kickoff — 0 caps — projected on the bench, the squad's youngest pick.
Last dance: Idrissa Gueye36 at kickoff with 130 caps — probably his final World Cup.
Form trend: Gained 56 international Elo points over the last 12 months — current rating 1928.

Iraq

Model-rated key players: Aymen Hussein (FW) — P(scores) 2.8%; Mohanad Ali (FW) — P(scores) 2.8%; Ali Al-Hamadi (FW) — P(scores) 1.4%.

How they play

Limited recent tournament data is available for Iraq's tactical profile. Early indicators suggest a balanced approach.

What they must execute

Iraq will need to leverage their strengths while managing the physical demands of a tournament spread across three host countries. Managing minutes for Jalal Hassan across what could be seven matches will test the coaching staff's rotation planning.

Storylines
Local-league core: Only 0 of 26 predicted-squad players played in a top-5 European league last season — the rest play home or in non-top-5 leagues.
Form trend: Gained 65 international Elo points over the last 12 months — current rating 1738.
Club core: 5 of 26 predicted-squad players play their club football for Al-Zawraa — a single-club spine on the international side.
Workload going in

Senegal's predicted XI averages 1,712 club minutes over the 2024-25 season (light load).

Senegal coverage: 73.0% (10/11 XI matched against the FBref Big-5) · Iraq: 4.0% (0/11).

Set-piece outlook

Senegal historically converts 8.1% of xG from set-pieces, contributing 0.13 expected set-piece goals in this fixture. Combined, the model expects 0.13 set-piece goals across the 90 minutes.

  • P(Senegal scores set-piece goal) 11.9%
  • P(set-piece goal in match) 11.9%

Senegal: Pape Matar Sarr on corners (7 corners) (per fbref 2021 22)

Penalty outlook

If a penalty is awarded to Senegal, the model gives 72.5% conversion, 71.4% for Iraq.

Senegal primary PK: Boulaye Dia (5/5 in 2020-21, per fbref 2021 22).

Derived from the model's per-fixture forecast joint and supporting reference data (predicted squads, set-piece xG share, PK posteriors, club minutes). See /docs/methodology/ for the full methodology.

Tactical forecast

Senegaltransition-heavy
PPDA
21.2
Possession
47%
Directness (yds/pass)
7.3
Long balls/90
43
Set-piece xG
8%
Iraqbalanced

Partial coverage from FotMob match stats (recent qualifiers and friendlies): possession and shot volume only. Press and build-up metrics are not available for this side.

PPDA
Possession
48%
Directness (yds/pass)
Long balls/90
Set-piece xG

Style profile per side from StatsBomb open-data aggregation across recent international tournaments (Euro 2020/2024, Copa America 2024, AFCON 2023, World Cup 2018/2022). The tactical-fingerprint badge maps each team’s observed style vector into one of eight canonical archetypes via a rule-based classifier; teams with fewer than three matches of qualifying coverage carry an “insufficient-data” label rather than being forced into a default. Sides outside the StatsBomb-open corpus use FotMob team match stats from recent qualifiers and friendlies instead (possession and shot volume only), marked as partial coverage. PPDA = passes the side allows per defensive action (lower = more intense press). Formation distributions are not yet produced — that head of the §2.7 classifier is pending its own data pull. See /docs/methodology/.

Squad depth

Most irreplaceable starters

Senegal

  1. Sadio ManéWingerCover: Ibrahim Mbaye · 0.440.38gap
  2. Nicolas JacksonStrikerCover: Cherif Ndiaye · 0.520.34gap
  3. Édouard MendyGoalkeeperCover: Yehvann Diouf · 0.490.29gap

Iraq

  1. Ali Al-HamadiStrikerCover: Ali Yousif · 0.050.36gap
  2. Aymen HusseinStrikerCover: Ali Yousif · 0.050.14gap
  3. Mohanad AliStrikerCover: Ali Yousif · 0.050.12gap

Gap = how far a side's rating at the position falls from the starter to his likely in-squad replacement (named under each name). Larger = harder to replace. Descriptive metric, does not feed the published probabilities. Methodology →

Match conditions

  • AltitudeNear sea level78 m
  • Avg temperatureFive-year mean over the tournament window21.2 °C
  • Avg humidity71%
  • Heat stressShade WBGT ~22.9 °CLow heat stress
  • Pitch surfacenatural grass

Natural-grass football stadium.

Heat stress is a shade Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature proxy from the venue's climatology mean temperature and humidity; FIFA mandates cooling breaks at WBGT 32 °C. Afternoon kickoff (local time). These are long-window averages, not a match-day forecast, and they are not inputs to the forecast.

Top scorers · P(scores in this match)

Senegal

Per-player scoring rate from Model #5 (`p_score_per_match`). Reflects each player's npxG/90, expected minutes, team xG share, and the average opposing-team defence. See /docs/methodology/.

Recent match form

Last match player ratings

Senegal

vs Belgium · avg 6.2

8
Ismaïla SarrRW
ATK
DEF
PAS
7
Habib DialloST
ATK
DEF
PAS
7
Sadio ManéST
ATK
DEF
PAS
3
El Hadji Malick DioufLB
ATK
DEF
PAS

Iraq

vs France · avg 7.8

9
Ahmed BasilGK
ATK
DEF
PAS
8
G. DoueRW
ATK
DEF
PAS
8
AhmadST
ATK
DEF
PAS
6
Marko FarjiLW
ATK
DEF
PAS

Player scores from official highlight analysis of each team's most recent match. Observational, not a model input. Methodology →

Video analysis: player performance

Per-player ratings and event breakdowns from official highlights analysis. Tap a player to see their full match timeline.

Senegal
9
Sadio Mané

A standout performer who scored two impressive goals, including a powerful shot after a skillful dribble, demonstrating exceptional attacking prowess.

3goals

Match timeline

8
Lamine Camara

Scored the crucial opening goal with a well-placed header, setting the tone for Senegal's dominant performance.

1goals1headers

Match timeline

8
Ismaïla Sarr5'–41'

Showed excellent pace and clinical finishing, scoring a crucial goal and creating an early chance that tested the opposition goalkeeper.

3goals1shots1on target

Match timeline

5'Belgium goalkeeper makes a crucial save to deny Ismaila Sarr from close range.
41'Ismaila Sarr extends Senegal's lead with a well-taken low shot after a strong run.
8
Habib Diallo23'–23'

Demonstrated good positioning to convert a cross for Senegal's first goal, putting his team ahead.

2goals

Match timeline

23'Habib Diallo scores for Senegal with a close-range finish after a cross into the box, putting them ahead.
Iraq
5
Ali Al-Hamadi

Despite being observed in defensive actions, he was ultimately unable to prevent Senegal's goals, indicating a struggle to impact the game defensively.

Match timeline

5
Tariq

Was observed in defensive positions during Senegal's attacks, but his efforts were not enough to prevent the team from conceding multiple goals.

4
Manaf Younes

Struggled defensively against Senegal's attacking moves, contributing to his team conceding multiple goals.

4
Merchas Doski

Was part of an Iraq defense that conceded multiple times, indicating a collective failure to withstand the attacking pressure.

Match timeline

Match observations

  • Senegal delivered a dominant attacking performance, scoring five goals against Iraq.
  • The highlights showcased Senegal's clinical finishing and individual skill in front of goal.
  • Iraq's defence struggled to contain the relentless pressure from the home side.

Under the hood

Model-by-model comparison

Senegal vs Iraq

Moderate (9.7%)
ModelWeightHomeDrawAway
EloRating-based strength estimate32%
69.7%
22.0%
8.3%
Dixon-ColesGoal-process model with low-score correction63%
62.3%
26.0%
11.7%
Hierarchical PoissonBayesian model with confederation pooling6%
59.9%
26.4%
13.7%
Bayesian stackingLearned-weight combination
71.4%
24.7%
3.9%
Ensemble (published)Uniform average + isotonic calibration
65.9%
26.4%
7.7%
Home spread: 9.7%
Draw spread: 4.4%
Away spread: 5.3%
How each model works
Elo
Each team carries a single strength rating updated after every match by a margin-aware K-factor. Match probabilities come from the logistic function of the rating gap. Elo is fast-adapting but coarse — it sees only who won and by how much, not how the goals were scored.
Dixon-Coles
A Poisson regression on team-level attack and defence parameters, fitted via maximum likelihood with an exponential time-decay weighting. The Dixon-Coles correction adjusts the four low-score cells (0-0, 1-0, 0-1, 1-1) where independent Poisson underestimates dependence. Produces full scoreline distributions, not just H/D/A.
Hierarchical Poisson
A Bayesian Poisson model fitted via MCMC (PyMC) with hierarchical priors that pool attack and defence parameters within confederations. Shrinks small-sample teams toward their confederation mean — helpful for nations with few recent competitive fixtures. Slower to fit but better-calibrated on the tails.
Bayesian stacking
Optimises simplex weights (w_elo, w_dc, w_hp) to maximise the leave-one-out log-score across a walk-forward backtest (Yao et al. 2018). The result is a weighted average of the three component models' probabilities, then isotonic-calibrated. Adds no extra features — just learns which component to trust more from historical accuracy.
Ensemble (published)
Equal-weight average of all three component models, followed by per-class isotonic regression calibration fitted on 24 months of walk-forward out-of-fold predictions. This is the probability published on the site. The uniform mean is deliberately simple — it avoids overfitting to the stacking weights' training window.

Three independent component models feed two combination strategies. The uniform ensemble is the published probability; Bayesian stacking uses learned weights. Amber bars flag >5pp divergence from the published number. Full methodology

Probability decomposition (transparency surface)

  • Baseline ensemble — P(Senegal win)59.8%
  • + Lineup contribution0.0pp
  • + Style-matchup contribution0.0pp
  • Published P(Senegal win)59.8%
Senegal
59.8%
Draw
27.3%
Iraq
13.0%

Decomposition of the published P(Senegal win) into the calibrated- baseline plus contributions from the §2.3 expected-XI lineup delta and the §2.7 style-matchup interaction. The §2.7 roadmap is explicit that style effects are second-order to team strength — single-digit-percentage P(win) shifts on extreme style matchups, near-zero on balanced ones. We surface the decomposition for transparency even when the contributions are small; the baseline carries the prediction. Methodology: /docs/methodology.

For this fixture both contributions round to under 0.05pp — the fitted style-matchup pair effect is in the small-magnitude regime the model expects to dominate.

Latest news & match context

Team news

No recent headlines for Senegal or Iraq.

Match conditions
Stage:
Group I · Matchday 3
Date:
26 Jun
Availability

Senegal

Senegal come in at close to full strength.

Iraq

Iraq come in at close to full strength.

What it means

Senegal and Iraq both come in at close to full strength, so the forecast rests on baseline team strength rather than late team-news swings.

Availability from the predicted squads and injury feed; forecast adjustments from the model's own decomposition. See /docs/methodology/.

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