DR Congo — World Cup 2026 Squad & Fixtures

DR Congo's only previous World Cup came in 1974 as Zaire, when they lost all three matches, conceded 14 goals, and scored none. That tournament produced one of the World Cup's most replayed clips — a Zaire defender breaking from the defensive wall to clear a free kick before it could be taken, a moment of confusion that has been mocked for half a century. The context around that tournament — political interference, unpaid bonuses, threats from the Mobutu regime — was grimmer than the football. The 2026 appearance ends a 52-year absence and brings a squad with athletic power that the 1974 side could not imagine.

DR Congo qualified through the CAF playoff pathway, winning a group that included Morocco, one of Africa's strongest sides, and beating Senegal in the playoff round. The campaign required results on the road and resilience in matches where the Congolese were out-possessed but not outworked. Sébastien Desabre's approach prioritises defensive organisation and rapid transition, and the qualifying results showed: fewer goals conceded than any other team in their group, with goals spread across the forward line rather than relying on one striker.

Strong in aerial duels, quick in transition, comfortable without the ball: DR Congo's profile is awkward for sides that expect to dictate play. Group K pairs them with Colombia, Portugal, and Uzbekistan: Colombia and Portugal will hold most of the ball, which is exactly the scenario where the Congolese counter-attack is most effective. Taking points from any of the three would be the programme's first World Cup result. Keeping matches close into the final twenty minutes is the foundation on which something bigger can be built.

Chancel Mbemba is a centre-back who scores goals: his heading from set pieces and runs into the opposition box give DR Congo an extra attacking dimension in matches where open-play chances are scarce. Yoane Wissa carries the ball forty metres in transition faster than most defenders can recover, and his willingness to run into channels that look closed turns defensive shifts into counter-attacking opportunities.