The Democratic Republic of Congo stands on the brink of a historic football achievement, lying just one win away from its first FIFA World Cup appearance since 1974, when the nation competed under the name Zaire.
A Hard-Fought Path Through Africa
DR Congo's remarkable journey to the cusp of global football's biggest stage was forged through a series of tense and dramatic matches. The Leopards secured their place in the African qualifying play-offs after finishing second in Group B behind Senegal. Their solid performance earned them a spot among the continent's top four second-placed teams, setting up a high-stakes continental play-off against Nigeria, Gabon, and Cameroon.
The crucial semi-final clash against Cameroon in Morocco two Thursdays ago was a nail-biting affair, decided at the very death. Chancel Mbemba emerged as the hero, netting the winning goal in stoppage-time to secure a dramatic 1-0 victory for the Leopards.
Penalty Drama Seals Historic Progression
Just three days later, DR Congo faced a formidable Nigeria in the African play-off final, with a coveted ticket to the FIFA Play-Off Tournament on the line. After a grueling 120 minutes of football, the two sides were locked at 1-1 after extra time, forcing the match to be decided by a penalty shootout.
Displaying immense nerve, DR Congo emerged victorious from the spot, ensuring their qualifying journey would continue and ending Nigeria's own World Cup dreams. This victory automatically placed the Congolese team in one of the two finals of the upcoming inter-confederation tournament.
The Final Hurdle in Mexico
The stage for the final qualifying act is set. The FIFA Play-Off Tournament will be held in March 2026 in Mexico, a co-host of the global showpiece alongside Canada and the USA. The tournament is designed to fill the final spots for the World Cup, with one place reserved for a team from CAF (Africa), alongside two from CONCACAF, one from CONMEBOL, one from the OFC, and one from the AFC.
The tournament structure features two brackets, each with a seeded team automatically placed in the final. DR Congo has been seeded and placed directly into the final of the first bracket. Their opponent will be determined from a pool including Jamaica, Bolivia, Suriname, or New Caledonia, depending on the official draw. Iraq will contest the final in the second bracket.
The decisive inter-confederation matches will be hosted in the Mexican cities of Monterrey and Guadalajara. For the Leopards, one final, monumental effort now separates them from a return to the World Cup after a wait of more than five decades.
