DR Congo at World Cup 2026: the Leopards' 52-year wait ends

It took 52 years, two playoffs and a 100th-minute goal, but the Democratic Republic of Congo are back at a World Cup. The Leopards last appeared in 1974 as Zaire, and their road to 2026 was about as dramatic as football gets: a 1-1 draw with Nigeria settled 4-3 on penalties in Rabat to win the CAF playoff in November, then a 1-0 win over Jamaica after extra time in the intercontinental final at the end of March, defender Axel Tuanzebe bundling home from a corner. No team in this tournament earned its place with more sweat.

The man behind the revival is French coach Sébastien Desabre, in charge since 2022, who has turned a talented but underachieving group into one of Africa's most stubborn sides. His final 26-man squad is built around captain Chancel Mbemba, the record cap-holder and defensive anchor, with Premier League forward Yoane Wissa — who joined Newcastle United from Brentford in 2025 — as the main attacking threat. Cédric Bakambu, Simon Banza and Fiston Mayele add genuine goalscoring pedigree. This is a real team, not a feel-good cameo.

The draw, though, was unkind. DR Congo land in Group K alongside European heavyweights Portugal, a dangerous Colombia and a well-drilled Uzbekistan side making its own World Cup debut. Desabre's men open against Portugal in Houston on June 17, then face Colombia in Guadalajara on June 23 before closing against Uzbekistan in Atlanta on June 27. That last fixture looks like the one that decides their tournament.

Realistically, our model treats the Leopards as a rank outsider for the title — this is a squad chasing the round of 32, not the trophy. In the new 48-team format, the top two of each group advance plus the eight best third-placed teams, which keeps the door open even if Portugal takes top spot. Beat or draw Uzbekistan, nick a point off Colombia, and a debutant-since-1974 run into the knockout rounds is far from fantasy.

Want to see how often DR Congo escape Group K? Run the bracket yourself in our match simulator, dig into the full team profile, and read where they land in our 2026 World Cup predictions.