The Leopards of DR Congo have secured a historic return to the FIFA World Cup, ending a 52-year absence after defeating Jamaica 1-0 in the intercontinental playoff final in Zapopan, Mexico.
The tightly contested match remained goalless after regulation time, forcing extra time. Defender Axel Tuanzebe emerged the hero, scoring in the 100th minute from a well-delivered corner kick to give DR Congo the decisive lead. The Leopards held on to seal qualification and book their place at the global showpiece.
DR Congo’s journey through the playoffs was remarkable, having eliminated strong African sides Cameroon and Nigeria before overcoming Jamaica in the final. The qualification marks their first appearance at the World Cup since 1974, when the country competed as Zaire.
At the tournament, DR Congo have been drawn in Group K, where they will face Portugal, Uzbekistan, and Colombia in the group stage.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, marking the first time the tournament will be hosted by three nations.
Following a rigorous qualification campaign spanning two years and over 250 matches, Africa’s representatives for the tournament have now been confirmed. Nine countries secured automatic qualification by topping their groups, while DR Congo claimed the final slot through the playoffs.
The African teams set to compete at the 2026 FIFA World Cup are Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Cape Verde, South Africa, and DR Congo.
Cape Verde’s qualification stands out as a historic milestone, as they will be making their maiden appearance at the World Cup. In contrast, traditional football powerhouses Nigeria and Cameroon failed to qualify, despite being widely tipped as favorites in their respective groups.
With the stage now set, Africa’s representatives will be aiming to make a strong impact on the world stage.
