Statabet 26 47 days until kickoff
DR Congo
Group K · 4th pot

DR Congo
Léopards.

Second World Cup in 52 years — after 1974, when they played as Zaire. At AFCON 2023 in Côte d'Ivoire, the Leopards reached the semi-finals, where they lost to the hosts 0:1. Young squad, core players — Bakambu, Mbemba, Wissa.

Route · Group K
Wed · 17 JUNPortugal — DR Congo — · —Houston · 12:00 Tue · 23 JUNColombia — DR Congo — · —Guadalajara · 20:00 Sat · 27 JUNDR Congo — Uzbekistan — · —Atlanta · 19:30
Fri 3 JULRound of 16 · K vs ?Atlanta
National anthem
Debout Congolais
0:00
Wikimedia
Full path · 7 stages

National team
calendar.

Matchday 1
17 JUN · WED · 12:00
away at Portugal
Houston · NRG Stadium
Matchday 2
23 JUN · TUE · 20:00
away at Colombia
Guadalajara · Akron
Matchday 3
27 JUN · SAT · 19:30
vs Uzbekistan
Atlanta · Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Round of 16
28 JUN–3 JUL · FRI
if they qualify
Atlanta · Boston · Vancouver · Guadalajara and 12 more
Round of 16
4 JUL–7 JUL · TUE
if they qualify
Atlanta · Dallas · Kansas City · Los Angeles and 4 more
Quarterfinals
9 JUL–11 JUL · SAT
if they qualify
Atlanta · New York / NJ · San Francisco · Philadelphia
Semifinals
14 JUL–15 JUL · WED
if they qualify
Atlanta · Dallas
Final
19 JUL · SUN
if they qualify
New York / NJ

Group stage confirmed, playoffs — date range and potential venues. Playoff schedule to be finalized after Round of 16 draw.

2
With Zaire
0
No titles
#60
FIFA Ranking
351
Odds to win
Coaching staff

Desabré —
French in Kinshasa.

Sebastien Desabres

Sebastien Desabres

Head Coach · DR Congo · since 2023

Frenchman, former Uganda, former Kenya, former Equatorial Guinea. Took over DR Congo in 2023 in crisis. Immediately — AFCON 2023 semifinal (4th place). 4-2-3-1 tactic, emphasis on wing speed and physicality.

AFCON 2023 4th place 22 matches · 14 wins 4-2-3-1 formation
Stars

Four players
to watch.

Yoan Wissa

Yoan Wissa

Forward · № 7 · 29 years old

Main attacking force of the Leopards, Newcastle forward (€30M). Leading scorer in qualification and play-offs.

File
Chancel Mbemba

Chancel Mbemba

Defender · № 5 · 31 years old

Captain and defensive backbone. Experienced centre-back at Lille, best player at AFCON 2024.

File
FW

Fiston Mahele

Forward · № 24 · 31 years old

Pyramids striker — CAF Champions League winner. Important battering ram in the second phase.

File
Cedric Bakambu

Cedric Bakambu

Forward · № 9 · 34 years old

Veteran and the national team's all-time leading scorer. Experience in top European and Asian leagues.

File
Squad · preliminary list

Twenty-six players
under one roof.

Preliminary Final FIFA squad list — by May 27, 2026.

Goalkeepers

1
Lionel Mpasi Le Havre 31 years · 192 cm · €1.5M
16
Timoti Faiiuliu Noah 26 years · 188 cm · €0.5M
21
Matte Epolo Standard 21 years old · 191 cm · €2.0M

Defenders

2
Aaron Wan-Bissaka West Ham 28 years old · 183 cm · €30M
3
Stiv Kapuadi Widzew 27 years old · 192 cm · €2.0M
4
Axel Tuanzebe Burnley 28 years old · 185 cm · €3.0M
5
Chancel Mbemba Lille 31 years old · 182 cm · €5.0M
12
Joris Kayembe Genk 31 years old · 178 cm · €2.5M
15
Rocky Bushiri Hibernian 26 years old · 188 cm · €1.5M
17
Arthur Masuaku Lens 32 years old · 173 cm · €2.0M
22
Jeremy Ngakia Watford 25 years old · 183 cm · €3.0M

Midfielders

6
Edo Kayembe Watford 27 years old · 185 cm · €8.0M
8
Samuel Mutuusami Atromitos 29 years old · 179 cm · €1.5M
10
Theo Bongonda Spartak Moscow 30 years old · 175 cm · €5.0M
13
Charles Pickel Espanyol 28 years old · 182 cm · €5.0M
14
Nathanaël Mbuku Montpellier 24 years old · 173 cm · €5.0M
18
Noah Sadiki Sunderland 21 years old · 182 cm · €12M
20
Ngalaiel Mukau Lille 21 years old · 180 cm · €12M
23
Meshak Elia Alanyaspor 28 years old · 175 cm · €3.0M

Forwards

7
Yoan Wissa Newcastle 29 years old · 176 cm · €30M
9
Cedric Bakambu Real Betis 34 years old · 184 cm · €3.0M
11
Greydy Dianga Elche 27 years old · 183 cm · €3.0M
19
Simon Banza Al Jazira 29 years old · 188 cm · €4.0M
24
Fiston Mahele Pyramids 31 years old · 187 cm · €5.0M
25
Silas Katompa Stuttgart 27 years old · 178 cm · €8.0M
26
Ben Maluango Lyon 23 years old · 173 cm · €10M
History

Second World Cup —
since Zaire.

Zaire 1974.

2 tournaments — 1974 (as Zaire) and 2026. On debut in 1974 — 3 defeats (Scotland 0:2, Yugoslavia 0:9, Brazil 0:3). Famous for an absurd episode: a defender ran to the ball during a Brazil penalty and kicked it before the whistle.

1974GroupScotland 0:2, Yugoslavia 0:9, Brazil 0:3 (as Zaire)Group