DR Congo
Central African nation; qualified for 2026 World Cup, first appearance in 40 years.
Last refreshed: 2 April 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Can the Leopards build on 40 years of absence to make an impact in Group K?
Latest on DR Congo
- Did DR Congo qualify for the 2026 World Cup?
- Yes. DR Congo beat Jamaica 1-0 after extra time in Guadalajara on 31 March 2026, qualifying for their first World Cup in 40 years.Source: FIFA
- What group is DR Congo in at the 2026 World Cup?
- DR Congo are in Group K alongside Portugal, Uzbekistan and Colombia.Source: FIFA
- When did DR Congo last play in a World Cup?
- DR Congo last appeared at a World Cup in 1982, competing as Zaire. Their only previous appearances were 1974 and 1982.
- Who scored for DR Congo against Jamaica in the 2026 World Cup playoff?
- Axel Tuanzebe scored the only goal in the 100th minute of extra time to send DR Congo to the World Cup.Source: FIFA
- How many times has DR Congo won the Africa Cup of Nations?
- DR Congo (formerly Zaire) have won the Africa Cup of Nations twice, in 1968 and 1974.
Background
DR Congo (the Democratic Republic of Congo) qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on 31 March 2026, beating Jamaica 1-0 after extra time in Guadalajara. Axel Tuanzebe scored the only goal in the 100th minute. It is the country's first World Cup appearance in 40 years. They enter Group K alongside Portugal, Uzbekistan and Colombia. related event
The national team, known as the Leopards, last appeared at a World Cup in 1974 (as Zaire) and again in 1982 (as Zaire). They have won the Africa Cup of Nations twice, in 1968 and 1974, and are regularly among Africa's stronger footballing nations despite chronic underinvestment. The confederation route in 2026 ran through the CAF-CONCACAF intercontinental playoff, where they overcame teams from different footballing traditions across two legs in Mexico.
DR Congo is a country of roughly 100 million people and has one of the largest diaspora footballing communities in Europe, particularly in Belgium, France and the United Kingdom. The 2026 qualification is significant both symbolically and practically: it comes at a time of acute political instability in the east of the country, and the team's journey through a play-off in Mexico under heavy security represented a diplomatic as much as a sporting achievement.