When does DR Congo play at World Cup 2026?

DR Congo are at the World Cup for the first time in 52 years, and the journey to get here was almost absurdly dramatic. Three rounds of elimination football stood between them and qualification after finishing second in their African group. They beat Nigeria on penalties in the continental play-off, survived an intercontinental draw against Jamaica with an extra-time goal, and emerged from the other side battered but triumphant. It was an odyssey.

The last time they were at a World Cup was 1974, when they competed as Zaire. That tournament is remembered for all the wrong reasons, including a 9-0 loss to Yugoslavia and a famous incident where a defender kicked the ball away from a Brazilian free kick, an act widely misunderstood at the time. The country's football history since then has been marked by political turmoil, civil conflict, and near-misses in qualifying that always seemed to end in heartbreak.

This is a football-mad nation of over 100 million people where daily life is challenging for many. Qualification brought a dose of joy that transcended sport. The celebrations across the country were enormous, and the emotional weight of what this squad achieved resonates deeply. It's not just about football. It's about a country seeing itself represented on the world's biggest stage after decades of absence.

The squad was built through perseverance and an unbreakable team spirit. Coach Sebastien Desabre has assembled a group of players from leagues across Europe and Africa who share a commitment to the national shirt. The team lacks the individual star power of their group rivals, but the collective determination that carried them through three play-off rounds is a form of quality that doesn't show up in scouting reports.

Group K with Portugal, Colombia, and Uzbekistan is tough. Portugal and Colombia are heavy favorites to advance, which means DR Congo are likely battling Uzbekistan for third place at best. That match, a meeting of two nations with everything to play for and nothing to lose, could be one of the group stage's most emotionally charged encounters. Both teams are making statements about their footballing futures.

Getting out of the group would be extraordinary, and realistically, a single victory or a few competitive performances would constitute success. But a team that survived three rounds of elimination football to get here won't be intimidated by the magnitude of the occasion. They've already proven they can handle pressure situations. The World Cup is a reward for years of perseverance, and DR Congo intend to enjoy every moment while competing as hard as they possibly can.