DR Congo's World Cup Group: Can They Qualify From Hell's Bracket?

Fifty-two years. That is how long the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo waited for this moment. When Axel Tuanzebe's header crashed in during extra time against Jamaica in Guadalajara on March 31, the streets of Kinshasa erupted. The Leopards were back — and they were handed Group K: Portugal, Colombia, and Uzbekistan. Heaven and hell in the same envelope. The debate raging right now is not whether they can win the group. It is whether they can steal the one result that changes everything.

Group K reads like a tournament bracket, not a group stage. Portugal enter the 2026 World Cup ranked fifth in the world, with Cristiano Ronaldo making what is widely understood to be his last World Cup appearance at 41 years old and a squad stacked with Bruno Fernandes, Rúben Dias, and Bernardo Silva. Colombia, ranked 13th, possess the frightening Luis Díaz — who produced 26 goals and 17 assists in all competitions this season with Bayern — and the deep know-how of a squad where 14 of 26 players have 30 or more caps. And then there is Uzbekistan: debutants, manageable on paper, but coached by Fabio Cannavaro and fielding Manchester City centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov.

The cold truth? DR Congo's FIFA ranking of 56 does not flatter them in this context. But football history is written by teams who read the group correctly, not the rankings. Saudi Arabia in 2022. Senegal in 2002. The path to the round of 32 exists — and it runs directly through Uzbekistan.

Coach Sébastien Desabre has transformed DR Congo from a chaotic, unpredictable outfit into one of Africa's most tactically coherent sides. His primary system — a disciplined 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 depending on the opponent — prioritises compact defensive blocks and rapid transitions forward. The philosophy is simple and ruthless: absorb pressure, spring the counter, punish transitions. It is pragmatic, not romantic, but it has delivered: under Desabre, the Leopards have never lost by more than a single goal.

The qualification story tells you everything about the mentality. They beat Cameroon 1-0 in the African playoff semi-final, beat Nigeria 4-3 on penalties in the final after a 1-1 draw, then beat Jamaica in extra time. None of those results were comfortable. All of them were earned through mental fortitude rather than dominant football. That DNA — the ability to grind out results in desperate moments — could be the most dangerous weapon in an American summer where heat, fatigue, and high stakes test every squad.

The weight of this moment falls on two contrasting figures. Cédric Bakambu, 35, is DR Congo's all-time leading scorer in this squad with 21 international goals for his country — one behind the all-time record. His La Liga season with Real Betis showed he still carries a striker's instinct: 3 goals and 1 assist in 5 appearances in the league, with 21 shots attempted. He will not run channels for 90 minutes against Portugal's backline, but plant him in the box at a set piece, find him in transition, and he punishes. He is the experience this squad needs in a moment of truth.

The future, however, belongs to Noah Sadiki. The 21-year-old central midfielder from Sunderland — signed for £17 million from Union SG last summer — made 26 Premier League appearances in 2025-26, accumulating nearly 2,900 minutes of top-flight football at an age when most players are still finding their feet. He is DR Congo's pressing engine, the player whose relentless work rate allows the attack to function. He will be asked to nullify the midfield corridors that both Portugal and Colombia exploit with devastating effect.

Then there is Aaron Wan-Bissaka. The West Ham right-back made 25 Premier League appearances in 2025-26, logging over 2,000 minutes and providing 2 assists from deep. His defensive numbers are equally compelling: 1.56 tackles and 1.77 interceptions per 90 minutes this season in the Premier League. Against Luis Díaz's vertical runs down Colombia's left, Wan-Bissaka's one-on-one defending will be tested like never before in his career.

The Leopards' Key Men

The realistic scenario for DR Congo is this: a narrow, dignified defeat against Portugal on June 17 — perhaps 1-0 or 2-0 — followed by a survival battle against Colombia on June 23, and then a must-win against Uzbekistan on June 27 in Atlanta. Uzbekistan are the group's other underdog, but they face Portugal and Colombia first; they will arrive at the final matchday potentially desperate and depleted.

This is DR Congo's window. Desabre's tactical discipline, Bakambu's big-game experience, Sadiki's relentless energy in midfield, and the veteran leadership of captain Chancel Mbemba — with his 107 caps — can combine for one historic night in Atlanta. The 48-team format means that even the best third-placed finishers can advance, which gives the Leopards a secondary path to the round of 32 even if the Colombia game goes against them.

My position: DR Congo will not qualify from Group K as a top-two finisher. But they will beat Uzbekistan, accumulate enough points to be a genuine contender for one of the best third-place spots, and in doing so — playing their first World Cup football in 52 years — they will announce themselves as a team that belongs at this tournament. That, against Portugal and Colombia, is not a failure. It is a foundation.

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