🇨🇩 DR Congo
Léopards back at a World Cup for the first time since 1974.
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Léopards Return After 52 Years
DR Congo have qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026, representing the CAF confederation. Their presence at the tournament is a proud moment for their football nation and for the fans who have followed this journey through every qualifying match.
DR Congo return to the World Cup for the first time since playing as Zaire in 1974, drawn into Group K alongside Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal, James Rodríguez's Colombia, and AFC debutants Uzbekistan. Sébastien Desabre has built a counter-attacking unit ready to ambush a heavyweight on its day.
Newcastle's Yoane Wissa, Real Betis striker Cédric Bakambu, and Lille captain Chancel Mbemba give the Léopards a Premier League and Ligue 1 spine that did not exist in their previous AFCON cycles. Realistic target: a third-place finish that sneaks into the knockout bracket via the best-third-placed-team route.
Group K Draw
All 4 teams in DR Congo's group. Top 2 advance automatically, plus the 8 best third-placed teams across all 12 groups.
How the 2026 Group Stage Works
DR Congo's 2026 Squad
Projected, official call-up to be confirmed
Likely first eleven
in a 4-3-3.
Editorial first XI based on qualifying form, club minutes, and Sebastien Desabre's recent selection. The official sheet is named one hour before kickoff.
- 16Lionel Mpasi
- 3Chancel MbembaCAPTAIN
- 4Axel Tuanzebe
- 5Arthur Masuaku
- 14Gideon Mensah
- 8Charles Pickel
- 6Samuel Moutoussamy
- 17Theo Bongonda
- 10Yoane Wissa
- 9Cedric Bakambu
- 11Silas Katompa
All 23 players
Goalkeepers
3 playersDefenders
7 playersMidfielders
6 playersForwards
7 playersEditorial selection based on current first-team form. The final 26-player squad is at the head coach's discretion and is announced approximately one month before the tournament.
DR Congo in CAF
Africa (CAF)
CAF sends 9 African teams, the most ever, following Morocco's 2022 semi-final that changed the conversation about African football forever.
DR Congo competed against other CAF nations through a multi-year qualifying campaign to secure their spot at the 2026 World Cup. The expanded format of 48 teams gave more nations a path to the tournament than ever before.
Other CAF teams at 2026
No Ticket? Watch DR Congo At a Fan Zone
Every DR Congo group match is screened live on the giant screen at the FIFA Fan Fest in the host city. Free entry, no queue, just show up. Every other host city also screens every match, so wherever you are, you can join the crowd.
Frequently Asked Questions
Group K Opponents
The teams DR Congo face in the group stage
