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DR Congo qualified for the round of 32 at the FIFA 2026 World Cup after defeating Uzbekistan 3-1 on June 28 in Atlanta, according to Qatar News Agency. The result capped the Group K stage with the African side finishing third on four points while Uzbekistan ended bottom with none. It marked DR Congo’s first World Cup victory in its second appearance in the competition, having previously featured only as Zaire in 1974 when it lost all three group matches without a win.
Qatar News Agency reported that Uzbekistan took an early lead through Eldor Shomurodov in the 10th minute at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Yoane Wissa equalized from the penalty spot in the 68th minute before Fiston Mayele put DR Congo ahead in the 78th. Wissa then added a third goal in the 91st minute with a powerful strike from outside the penalty area to complete the comeback.
FIFA match data placed DR Congo’s expected goals total at 2.35 compared with Uzbekistan’s 0.2, underlining the home side’s dominance after the interval. The attendance reached 68,239, reflecting strong interest in the multi-host tournament’s group phase across North America. According to ESPN, the win not only delivered DR Congo’s first knockout-stage berth but also ended a 52-year wait since its sole prior World Cup outing.
Group K consisted of Portugal, Colombia, DR Congo and Uzbekistan, Wikipedia entries on the tournament show. Colombia topped the standings after a goalless draw with Portugal while the latter advanced in second place. DR Congo’s four points from its three matches proved sufficient to edge out Uzbekistan and claim the third qualification spot from the group.
The Democratic Republic of Congo will face England in the round of 32 on July 1, also in Atlanta, The Athletic reported in its live coverage. Sébastien Desabre’s squad featured several Europe-based players including Wissa, who plays for Brentford, and captain Chancel Mbemba. Uzbekistan, coached by Fabio Cannavaro, struggled throughout the group phase and failed to register a point or score after the opening goal against DR Congo.
FIFA historical records confirm that DR Congo’s 1974 campaign as Zaire ended with defeats to Scotland, Brazil and Yugoslavia, yielding no goals scored and 14 conceded. The 2026 qualification therefore represents a significant milestone for Congolese football. Match officials led by German referee Felix Zwayer oversaw proceedings that saw multiple substitutions influence the second-half momentum shift.
