DR Congo’s 2026 World Cup Survival Guide: How the Leopards Can Still Reach the Round of 32 After Colombia Defeat

DR Congo’s maiden FIFA World Cup campaign has been a steep learning curve, but the Leopards have not yet exhausted their options. Despite a 1-0 defeat to Colombia — sealed by Daniel Munoz’s second-half strike — Sebastien Desabre’s side remain in contention for a place in the Round of 32, thanks in large part to the tournament’s expanded 48-team format.

The defeat leaves DR Congo with a single point from two games in Group K, following their earlier result against a Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal side. Yet the structure of this World Cup means that finishing third in a group does not automatically spell elimination. Eight best third-place teams will advance to the knockout stage, and with several groups projected to produce third-placed finishers on two or three points, a win in their final fixture could be sufficient.

The most direct route to survival is straightforward: beat Uzbekistan on June 28 and accumulate four points. Historically in expanded World Cup formats, four points represents a competitive total for a third-placed qualifier. While it would not guarantee progression, it would position the Leopards favourably when the best-third-place standings are calculated across all groups.

A more ambitious scenario also exists. Should DR Congo defeat Uzbekistan by a significant margin while Colombia simultaneously upset a resurgent Portugal side, the Leopards could leapfrog Portugal on goal difference and finish as Group K runners-up, securing automatic qualification. It remains a long shot, but the open nature of this tournament means such outcomes cannot be entirely discounted if results align.

What DR Congo cannot afford is any outcome short of a win. A draw against Uzbekistan would leave them on two points — a tally that, historically, is unlikely to feature among the top eight third-place sides. A defeat would end their campaign outright. The stakes of the June 28 fixture, therefore, could scarcely be higher.

Speaking after the Colombia loss, coach Sebastien Desabre acknowledged the scale of the challenge his players are facing while pointing to the broader value of the experience. “It was a difficult match for us. We played against a very good team. They were superior,” he told FIFA. “Our players, as usual, fought on the pitch to get a result, but we couldn’t manage. Portugal and Colombia give us a lot of experience that we’re faced with, because for us, this is our first World Cup.”

Notably, striker Lumumba was absent for DR Congo’s opening fixture due to visa issues but returned to the squad for the Colombia match, adding a further dimension to their attacking options ahead of the Uzbekistan decider.

DR Congo’s World Cup debut has exposed the gap between an African side making its first appearance on the sport’s grandest stage and more experienced nations, but it has also demonstrated a capacity to compete for extended periods. Against Uzbekistan, Desabre will need that competitive spirit to translate into a result — combining defensive organisation with the clinical finishing that has at times eluded the Leopards in this tournament. The Round of 32 remains a realistic destination, but only a victory will keep that destination on the map.