DEMOCRATIC Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi has encouraged his country’s national team to progress to the knockout rounds of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The president issued a passionate message today ahead of DR Congo’s win-or-bust World Cup clash against Uzbekistan in Atlanta in the early hours of tomorrow.
“This encounter is not just a football match. It is a moment of national unity, a moment when an entire people will look in the same direction, with the same passion, the same hope, and the same love for the flag,” Tshisekedi wrote on the presidency’s X account.
DR Congo have one point from two games in Group K, after a 1-1 draw with Portugal and a narrow 1-0 defeat to Colombia, and must beat Uzbekistan to stay in the tournament.
Uzbekistan have lost both of their matches but could still advance with a victory.
“This Saturday, June 27, 2026, in Atlanta, you will not be alone. Behind you, there will be more than 100 million Congolese people—our families, our youth, our elders, our provinces, our diaspora, our supporters, our soldiers, our workers, our children—all united behind you,” Tshisekedi wrote.
“I therefore call on all the Congolese people to mobilize, in unity, passion, and responsibility, to carry our Leopards toward the victory we all hope for.”
Progress to the knockout rounds for DR Congo would have appeared unlikely months ago when they entered the playoffs for the best four runners-up in the African series, having failed to qualify directly.
It is DR Congo’s first appearance at a World Cup since 1974, when the country was known as Zaire.
DR Congo will be seeking to join fellow African teams in the round of 32 as an unprecedented seven of the 10 from the continent have reached the knockout rounds.
Previously, Africa had never had more than two countries progressing past the group stage at the same World Cup edition, but the continent has impressively taken full advantage of the expansion of the tournament to 48 teams.
Morocco, Cote d’Ivoire and South Africa qualified after finishing second in tough groups, while Ghana are guaranteed passage after earning four points from their first two games against Panama and England, before their final group clash against Croatia tonight.
Egypt also finished second in their group after a tense 1-1 draw with Iran in the early hours of today, the same as Cape Verde, who finished unbeaten after playing a 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia this morning, edging out Uruguay for second spot in their group.
Senegal squeezed through as one of the eight best third-placed teams following a 5-0 hammering of Iraq last night.
With the grossly unimpressive Tunisia the only side from Africa definitely not advancing after three defeats, DR Congo and Algeria could make it an incredible nine out of 10 for Africa by the early hours of tomorrow.
AFRICAN TEAMS ALREADY THROUGHOUT TO KNOCKOUT ROUNDS
Morocco
Ghana
Cote d’Ivoire
South Africa
Senegal
Egypt
Cape Verde
