Tournament Snapshot
DR Congo's presence in the Round of 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup is a genuine historic achievement — and they earned every single point with drama, determination, and individual brilliance. Their group stage unfolded like a three-act play: a 1-1 opening draw against Portugal that had the Leopards looking like genuine tournament contenders, then a chastening 1-0 defeat to Colombia that left their qualification in serious doubt, and finally a decisive 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan that sealed their passage as one of the best third-placed teams in the competition.
Their journey from qualification — one of the most dramatic and emotional in CAF history — to the Round of 32 on the grandest stage in football is a story that transcends sport. These players are carrying the hopes of 100 million people. That weight has not broken them. It has fuelled them.
Tactical Breakdown
Sébastien Desabre has built DR Congo around two key principles: defensive organisation and explosive transition. A 4-4-2 defensive shape compresses into a 4-6-0 when pressed, with the two banks of four presenting a compact, physical wall that Portugal found almost impossible to break down. When possession is recovered, DR Congo release Yoane Wissa and Fiston Mayele into space with directness and pace that can overwhelm even well-organised backlines. The wide players sit narrow in defence, stretching wide in attack to provide outlets for the long, incisive balls that bypass opposition midfields.
Star Player: Yoane Wissa
Three goals in three group games from a player who operates predominantly from wide positions — Yoane Wissa has been the revelation of DR Congo's campaign. The Brentford forward's scoring record is a tribute to his extraordinary movement, tireless pressing, and clinical finishing from wide areas. Against Uzbekistan, his performances were unstoppable — drifting inside to shoot, running in behind from deep positions, and creating chaos in ways that conventional wide players rarely manage. Wissa is DR Congo's heartbeat and their main route to goal. If he finds his best form against England, the Leopards could spring the Round of 32's biggest shock.
Road Ahead: vs. England
England are one of the tournament favourites and arrive in this fixture in excellent form: seven points from the group stage, Harry Kane with three goals, Jude Bellingham operating at the peak of his powers. Gareth Southgate's 4-3-3 is well-drilled, physically imposing, and carries a genuine goal threat from multiple positions. For DR Congo, this is David vs. Goliath — but the Leopards have faced that kind of challenge before and found a way.
DR Congo's best chance lies in weathering an early England storm, remaining compact and disciplined for long periods, and launching Wissa into space on the counter. England's high defensive line — which Ghana probed effectively even in a goalless draw — is a potential weakness. If Wissa can get in behind Stones or Guehi, DR Congo will create genuine chances. The question is whether they can create enough of them.
Prediction
England's quality and depth is simply too much across 90 minutes. Wissa scores one, but Kane and Bellingham are the difference. England 3–1 DR Congo.
