DR Congo
Coach: Sébastien Desabre
Starting XI Prediction
Star Players
All Players →
Fixtures
Group K
Group K
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Colombia | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 7 |
| 2 |  Portugal | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 1 | +5 | 5 |
| 3 | DR Congo | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 4 |
| 4 |  Uzbekistan | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 11 | -9 | 0 |
Full Squad Players List
| # | Player | Pos | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | |||
| 1 | Lionel Mpasi Le Havre AC | GK | |
| 16 | Timothy Fayulu FC Noah | GK | |
| 21 | Matthieu EpoloXI Standard Liège | GK | |
| Defenders | |||
| 2 | Aaron Wan-BissakaXI West Ham United FC | DEF | |
| 3 | Steve Kapuadi Widzew Ł ód ź | DEF | |
| 4 | Axel Tuanzebe Burnley FC | DEF | |
| 5 | Dylan BatubinsikaXI AEL FC | DEF | |
| 12 | Joris Kayembe KRC Genk | DEF | |
| 22 | Chancel MbembaXI Lille OSC | DEF | |
| 24 | Gédéon Kalulu Aris Limassol FC | DEF | |
| 26 | Arthur MasuakuXI RC Lens | DEF | |
| Midfielders | |||
| 6 | Ngal'ayel Mukau Lille OSC | MID | |
| 7 | Nathanaël Mbuku Montpellier HSC | MID | |
| 8 | Samuel MoutoussamyXI Atromitos FC | MID | |
| 10 | Théo BongondaXI FC Spartak Moscow | MID | |
| 14 | Noah SadikiXI Sunderland AFC | MID | |
| 15 | Aaron Tshibola Kilmarnock FC | MID | |
| 18 | Charles Pickel RCD Espanyol | MID | |
| 25 | Edo Kayembe Watford FC | MID | |
| Forwards | |||
| 9 | Brian Cipenga CD Castellón | FWD | |
| 11 | Gaël KakutaXI AEL FC | FWD | |
| 13 | Meschak Elia Alanyaspor | FWD | |
| 17 | Cédric BakambuXI Real Betis | FWD | |
| 19 | Fiston MayeleXI Pyramids FC | FWD | |
| 20 | Yoane Wissa Newcastle United FC | FWD | |
| 23 | Simon Banza Al Jazira | FWD | |
World Cup History
—
Titles
1
Appearances
0
WC Goals
0
Wins
Best finish: Group stage (1974 — as Zaire)
Top scorer: —
Most capped: Mwamba Kazadi (3 matches)
Record: 0W – 0D – 3L
DR Congo's football story begins as Zaire — the first sub-Saharan African nation to play in a World Cup, in West Germany 1974. The tournament is remembered for a bizarre free-kick incident (a Zaire player ran out and kicked the ball before the wall was set) and heavy defeats. The Léopards return for 2026 with Yoane Wissa leading a new generation, 52 years after their only previous appearance.
Tournament Eras
Zaire 1974 — Africa's Sub-Saharan Pioneer
1974Zaire (now DR Congo) made history as the first sub-Saharan African team to play in a World Cup. Despite losing all three group games — 2-0 to Scotland, 9-0 to Yugoslavia, 3-0 to Brazil — their participation was a watershed moment for African football. The 9-0 defeat to Yugoslavia remains the heaviest in World Cup history. The squad included talented players who were operating under immense political pressure from the Mobutu regime.
The Long Road Back — 2026
2020–2026After 52 years, DR Congo return to the World Cup stage. Despite producing top European players — Yoane Wissa (Brentford), and others — they repeatedly fell short in qualifying until their 2026 campaign succeeded. The return is one of the most anticipated comebacks in African football.
Iconic Moments
The Free Kick Incident — 1974
In the 9-0 defeat to Yugoslavia, a Zaire player ran out and kicked the ball before the free-kick was set — reportedly fearing another goal (having already conceded six or more). Whether it was deliberate or confused remains debated. The incident became symbolic of the chaos surrounding Zaire's 1974 campaign, though the players themselves often spoke of the political pressure they faced.
Sub-Saharan Africa's First World Cup Match
Zaire's 2-0 defeat to Scotland in 1974 was the first World Cup match played by a sub-Saharan African team. Despite the result, the milestone opened doors for future African qualification — Nigeria, Cameroon, Senegal, and Morocco all followed in Zaire's footsteps in the decades ahead.