DR Congo — World Cup 2026 Predictions & Squad Analysis

FIFA Ranking: #46 · Manager: Sébastien Desabre
Style: Sébastien Desabre, a French tactician, emphasizes a pragmatic and organized approach, focusing on defensive solidity and quick transitions. His style leverages the individual flair of his attacking players while ensuring collective effort and commitment across the squad.

Group K

#46

FIFA Ranking

25%

Advance

0%

Win Tournament

Group Stage

AI Predicted Finish

AI TOURNAMENT PREDICTION — DR CONGO

Group

R32

R16

QF

SF

Final

🏆

Win Group

0%

Round of 32

0%

Round of 16

0%

Quarter-Final

0%

Semi-Final

0%

Final

0%

Win Tournament

0%

DR Congo returns to the World Cup stage for the first time since 1974, aiming to make a stronger impression. Led by Sébastien Desabre, the Leopards possess a blend of experienced defenders and exciting attackers. While their group presents a formidable challenge, their athleticism and individual brilliance could spring a surprise.

DR Congo in Group K

Date	Opponent	AI Pick	Score Pred.	Conf.
Wed, June 17, 2026	Portugal	DR Congo Loss	0-2	75%
Wed, June 24, 2026	Colombia	DR Congo Draw	1-1	55%
Sun, June 28, 2026	Uzbekistan	DR Congo Win	2-1	65%

Full Group K predictions →

DR Congo Squad — Key Players

ATTACK

Y. Wissa

Attacker

18

2024/25 Premier League Goals

S. Banza

Attacker

12

2025/26 Primeira Liga Goals

C. Bakambu

Attacker

3

2025/26 La Liga Goals

MIDFIELD

E. Kayembe

Midfielder

4

2025/26 Championship Goals

S. Moutoussamy

Midfielder

25

2025/26 Ligue 1 Appearances

T. Bongonda

Midfielder

5

2025/26 La Liga Goals

DEFENSE & GK

L. Mpasi

Goalkeeper

35

2024/25 Club Appearances

A. Wan-Bissaka

Defender

66

2024/25 Premier League Interceptions

C. Mbemba

Defender

1

2025/26 Ligue 1 Goals

A. Masuaku

Defender

2.83

2025/26 Premier League Tackles/90

A. Tuanzebe

Defender

28

2025/26 Championship Appearances

✅ STRENGTHS

Strong individual defensive talents like Mbemba and Wan-Bissaka
Pace and directness in attack with players like Wissa and Banza
Physical and athletic squad capable of challenging opponents
Recent experience in intercontinental play-offs, building team cohesion

⚠️ WEAKNESSES

Inconsistent performances against top-tier opposition
Lack of extensive World Cup experience for most players (apart from Mbemba)
Depth in certain positions might be tested during the tournament
Potential for lapses in concentration under pressure

DR Congo — Betting Markets

Market	AI Prob.	Odds	Implied	Value?
Win World Cup	0%	1000	0%	—
Qualify from Group	20%	4	25%	—

DR Congo vs Likely Opponents

R32

DR Congo vs

Spain

15%

85%

If DR Congo advances as a strong third-place team, they might face a group winner like Spain.

DR Congo — World Cup History

Year	Host	Result	Key Moment
1974	West Germany	Group Stage (as Zaire)	First Sub-Saharan African team to qualify, but lost all three matches including a 0-9 defeat to Yugoslavia.
1968	Ethiopia	Champions (Africa Cup of Nations)	Won their first AFCON title, defeating Ghana 1-0 in the final (as Congo-Kinshasa).
1974	Egypt	Champions (Africa Cup of Nations)	Secured their second AFCON title, overcoming Zambia in a replay (as Zaire).
1998	Burkina Faso	Third Place (Africa Cup of Nations)	Achieved their best performance as DR Congo, reaching the semi-finals.
2015	Equatorial Guinea	Third Place (Africa Cup of Nations)	Reached the semi-finals, eventually finishing third after a penalty shootout.
2023	Ivory Coast	Fourth Place (Africa Cup of Nations)	Made it to the semi-finals, losing to South Africa in the third-place playoff.