Congo DR World Cup 2026, under the leadership of Sebastien Desabre, they have made their first appearance in the FIFA World Cup after 52 years being out of the tournament. Les Leopards 26-man squad is playing in Group K alongside Portugal, Colombia, and Uzbekistan. The group’s matches will be hosted in major stadiums across the United States and Mexico.
The Congo DR World Cup 2026 team features notable players such as Chancel Mbemba (captain), Cedric Bakambu, Yoane Wissa, Arthur Masuaku, and Gael Kakuta. The team has started on a high note after drawing with Portugal, proving their ability to perform well at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Stay tuned on SportPesa to get all the World Cup’s live scores, fixtures, results, stats, and table & standings.
Read Also: Portugal vs Congo Preview & Prediction: 2026 FIFA World Cup Group K
Congo DR national team profile overview
| Category | Details |
| Team | DR Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo) |
| Nickname | The Leopards |
| Confederation | CAF (Africa) |
| Head Coach | Sébastien Desabre |
| Captain | Chancel Mbemba |
| FIFA World Ranking | 46th |
| FIFA World Cup Appearances | 2 (1974, 2026) |
| Previous Appearance | 1974 |
| Best World Cup Finish | Group Stage |
| World Cup 2026 Group | Group K |
| Group Opponents | Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan |
| Opening Match | Portugal 1–1 DR Congo |
| Current Position | 2nd in Group K |
| Points | 1 |
| Goals Scored | 1 |
| Goals Conceded | 1 |
| Goal Difference | 0 |
| Top Scorer | Yoane Wissa (1 goal) |
| Qualification Route | FIFA World Cup Intercontinental Play-Off Winner |
| Host Nations | Canada, Mexico, United States |
| World Cup Status | Group Stage (Ongoing) |
Congo DR World Cup 2026 qualification
The Leopards were in Group B in the Confederation of African Football (CAF), playing alongside Senegal, Mauritania, Togo, Sudan, and South Sudan. They finished second, two points behind Senegal. In the CAF play-offs, they defeated Cameroon 1-0, qualifying for the finals. In the finals, they beat Nigeria in a penalty shootout. This pushed them into inter-confederation play-offs, where Congo beat Jamaica 1-0, giving them entry into the 2026 World Cup.
Congo DR World Cup 2026 group
The DR Congo World Cup Squad 2026 is playing in group K against Portugal, Colombia, and Uzbekistan. Their matches will be hosted in Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Estadio Akron in Zapopan, NRG Stadium in Houston, and Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. The teams in this group will play a round-robin, with the top two teams, and possibly the third, advancing to the knockout stages.
Congo DR World Cup 2026 fixtures and match schedule
Congo DR World Cup Fixtures present the group K’s match schedules. This includes the match dates, kickoff times, venues, and opponents. The table below shows the FIFA World Cup Group K’s fixtures.
| Match | Venue | Date | Time (EDT) | Result/Status |
| Portugal vs DR Congo | Mexico City, Mexico | 17 June 2026 | 1:00 PM | Portugal 1–1 DR Congo |
| Colombia vs DR Congo | Guadalajara, Mexico | 23 June 2026 | 10:00 PM | Upcoming |
| DR Congo vs Uzbekistan | Guadalajara, Mexico | 27 June 2026 | 7:30 PM | Upcoming |
Read Also: FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule: Full group stage fixtures, dates and group breakdown.
Congo DR results at FIFA World Cup 2026
The table below gives DR Congo World Cup Results. It outlines the played matches, timeline, scores, match status, and the upcoming matches. Football fans can see how the team has performed in recent games here.
| Date | Match | Result | Status |
| 17 June 2026 | Portugal vs DR Congo | 1–1 Draw | Completed |
| 23 June 2026 | Colombia vs DR Congo | Not yet played | Upcoming |
| 27 June 2026 | DR Congo vs Uzbekistan | Not yet played | Upcoming |
Congo DR World Cup 2026 table and standings
DR Congo World Cup Standings represents the team’s position, matches played, wins, draws, losses, goals, and the total accumulated points. In Group K of the World Cup, Congo sits in second place after drawing with Portugal in its first match.
| Position | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Colombia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 3 |
| 2 | DR Congo | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 3 | Portugal | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 4 | Uzbekistan | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 0 |
Congo DR World Cup 2026 squad
The DR Congo World Cup squad, under the leadership of head coach Desabre and team captain Chancel Mbemba, features notable players such as Cedric Bakambu and Yoane Wissa. The table below lists the DR Congo World Cup players, their age, team, height, weight, jersey number, position, and nationality.
| Jersey No. | Player | Age | Position | Club | Height | Weight |
| 1 | Lionel Mpasi | 31 | Goalkeeper | Le Havre | 1.92 m | 84 kg |
| 16 | Timothy Fayulu | 26 | Goalkeeper | FC Noah | 1.87 m | 80 kg |
| 21 | Matthieu Epolo | 21 | Goalkeeper | Standard Liège | 1.91 m | 82 kg |
| 2 | Aaron Wan-Bissaka | 28 | Right-Back | West Ham United | 1.83 m | 72 kg |
| 3 | Steve Kapuadi | 28 | Centre-Back | Widzew Łódź | 1.96 m | 88 kg |
| 4 | Axel Tuanzebe | 28 | Centre-Back | Burnley | 1.86 m | 77 kg |
| 5 | Dylan Batubinsika | 30 | Centre-Back | AEL | 1.85 m | 79 kg |
| 12 | Joris Kayembe | 31 | Left-Back | Genk | 1.80 m | 73 kg |
| 22 | Chancel Mbemba (C) | 31 | Centre-Back | Lille | 1.82 m | 78 kg |
| 24 | Gédéon Kalulu | 28 | Right-Back | Aris Limassol | 1.78 m | 72 kg |
| 26 | Arthur Masuaku | 32 | Left-Back | Lens | 1.79 m | 70 kg |
| 6 | Ngal’ayel Mukau | 21 | Defensive Midfielder | Lille | 1.82 m | 74 kg |
| 7 | Nathanaël Mbuku | 24 | Right Winger | Montpellier | 1.70 m | 68 kg |
| 8 | Samuel Moutoussamy | 29 | Central Midfielder | Atromitos | 1.76 m | 72 kg |
| 10 | Théo Bongonda | 30 | Left Winger | Spartak Moscow | 1.77 m | 69 kg |
| 14 | Noah Sadiki | 21 | Central Midfielder | Sunderland | 1.83 m | 73 kg |
| 15 | Aaron Tshibola | 31 | Defensive Midfielder | Kilmarnock | 1.85 m | 78 kg |
| 18 | Charles Pickel | 29 | Central Midfielder | Espanyol | 1.87 m | 79 kg |
| 25 | Edo Kayembe | 28 | Central Midfielder | Watford | 1.83 m | 76 kg |
| 9 | Brian Cipenga | 28 | Forward | Castellón | 1.78 m | 72 kg |
| 11 | Gaël Kakuta | 34 | Attacking Midfielder | AEL | 1.73 m | 68 kg |
| 13 | Meschack Elia | 28 | Right Winger | Alanyaspor | 1.73 m | 67 kg |
| 17 | Cédric Bakambu | 35 | Striker | Real Betis | 1.82 m | 73 kg |
| 19 | Fiston Mayele | 31 | Striker | Pyramids FC | 1.80 m | 75 kg |
| 20 | Yoane Wissa | 29 | Centre-Forward | Newcastle United | 1.76 m | 72 kg |
| 23 | Simon Banza | 29 | Striker | Al Jazira | 1.89 m | 82 kg |
Read Also: World Cup Betting Guide 2026: Expert Tips, Odds, Predictions & Winning Strategies
Congo DR World Cup 2026 statistics
DR Congo World Cup statistics show the team’s performance in the tournament. Though the team has played only one match, it has given enough discussion points. In their last match against Portugal, they made 8 shots and completed 222 passes. They also got one yellow card and 2 offsides. The table below presents the DR Congo World Cup Matches analysis in the group stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
| Category | Statistic | Record |
| Tournament | World Cup Appearances | 2 (1974, 2026) |
| Group | K | |
| Matches Played | 1 | |
| Wins | 0 | |
| Draws | 1 | |
| Losses | 0 | |
| Goals Scored | 1 | |
| Goals Conceded | 1 | |
| Goal Difference | 0 | |
| Points | 1 | |
| Current Position | 2nd | |
| Attack | Total Shots | 8 |
| Shots on Target | 2 | |
| Goals | 1 | |
| Conversion Rate | 12.5% | |
| Corners | 4 | |
| Offsides | 2 | |
| Possession & Passing | Possession | 25% |
| Total Passes | 222 | |
| Pass Accuracy | 81% | |
| Discipline | Fouls Committed | 9 |
| Yellow Cards | 1 | |
| Red Cards | 0 | |
| Player Statistics | Top Scorer | Yoane Wissa (1) |
| Top Assist Provider | Arthur Masuaku (1) | |
| Captain | Chancel Mbemba | |
| Head Coach | Sébastien Desabre |
Congo DR World Cup 2026 coaches and technical bench
The Congo DR National Football Team is headed by the French head coach Sebastien Desabre. Under Desabre’s leadership, the team is back in the World after 52 years away. The head coach is assisted by Rafael Hamidi, who provides tactical and match analysis to help improve the squad. The table below presents the Leopards’ coaches and the technical bench.
| Position | Staff Member | Nationality |
| Head Coach | Sébastien Desabre | France |
| Assistant Coach | Rafael Hamidi Cuadros | Spain / Algeria |
| Goalkeeping Coach | Robert (Muteba) Kidiaba | DR Congo |
| Fitness Coach | Guy Bukasa | DR Congo |
| Match Analyst | Corentin Jourdan | France |
| Physiotherapist | Cédric D’Antonio | France |
| Director of Football | Hérita Ilunga | DR Congo |
| Sporting Director | Christian Nsengi-Biembe | DR Congo |
| Technical Director | Médard Lusadusu | DR Congo |
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Latest news on the DR Congo World Cup 2026
DR Congo continues to make headlines at the 2026 FIFA World Cup following its historic return to the tournament after 50+ years away. The Leopards earned their first point and goal in a memorable 1-1 draw against Portugal. As the competition progresses, stay tuned on Sportpesa for DR Congo’s stats, results, fixtures, and standings in Group K as they pursue their World Cup campaign.
FAQs on the Congo DR World Cup 2026
Can DR Congo still qualify for the 2026 World Cup?
The DR Congo is in the 2026 World Cup, playing in Group K alongside Portugal, Uzbekistan, and Colombia.
Is DR Congo a good soccer team?
Yes, the DR Congo (the Leopards) is a highly respected, competitive African football team.
Who is the best soccer player in Congo?
The best soccer players in Congo are Yoane Wissa and Antoine Makoumbou.
How many times has Congo gone to the World Cup?
The Congo national team has qualified for the FIFA World Cup twice, in 1974 and 2026.
Conclusion
The Congo DR’s return to the World Cup 2026 is historic. Having secured a draw in the first match against Portugal, Congo is a strong contender. Follow the SportPesa live blog for the latest updates on Congo’s live scores, fixtures, and standings in the FIFA World Cup.
Read Also: Uzbekistan vs Colombia Preview & Prediction: 2026 FIFA World Cup Group K
