DR Congo’s return to the FIFA World Cup after a 52-year absence is being treated as more than a sentimental occasion. Former Manchester United defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka has made clear that Sébastien Desabre’s side intend to compete meaningfully when the tournament gets underway in North America.
“We didn’t come all this way just to make up the numbers. We really want to seize our chance to the fullest. Not just for us, the players, but for the whole country,” Wan-Bissaka said.
The Leopards secured their place at the 2026 World Cup through a qualification campaign that required them to overcome two significant hurdles. In the African qualifying playoffs, DR Congo eliminated Nigeria’s Super Eagles via a 4-3 penalty shootout — one of the more dramatic results of the entire qualifying cycle across all confederations. They then turned to the inter-confederation playoffs, where they defeated Jamaica 1-0, with Axel Tuanzebe scoring the only goal of the match.
The achievement marks DR Congo’s first World Cup appearance since 1974, when the nation competed under the name Zaire. That 52-year gap underlines the scale of what Desabre’s squad has accomplished, and adds further weight to Wan-Bissaka’s assertion that the squad carries a sense of responsibility extending beyond the players themselves.
For Nigeria, the elimination represented a painful end to their qualifying campaign. The Super Eagles had been considered strong contenders to secure one of Africa’s World Cup berths, making the shootout defeat to DR Congo one of the more notable upsets of the African playoff round.
DR Congo have been drawn in Group K for the tournament, where they will face Portugal, Colombia, and Uzbekistan. On paper, the group presents a considerable challenge. Portugal, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, are among Europe’s most experienced international sides, while Colombia arrive having enjoyed a strong recent period in South American football. Uzbekistan, like DR Congo, will be seeking to announce themselves on the global stage.
However, the manner of DR Congo’s qualification — defeating an established African footballing nation in Nigeria and then overcoming a Caribbean side in Jamaica across two high-pressure knockout ties — suggests Desabre has built a squad capable of performing under pressure. Wan-Bissaka, who previously played for Manchester United and Crystal Palace in the English Premier League before joining the international stage with DR Congo, brings considerable experience at the highest club level.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and will feature an expanded field of 48 teams — the first edition of the tournament to do so. The expanded format increases the number of group-stage matches and gives nations such as DR Congo more opportunity to build momentum before the knockout rounds begin.
With qualification confirmed and group-stage opponents known, attention will now turn to how Desabre shapes his squad for the tournament and whether DR Congo can back up Wan-Bissaka’s confident words with performances on the pitch.
