On Saturday, DR Congo staged an impressive comeback to defeat Uzbekistan 3-1 in the final match of Group K at the 2026 World Cup. The thrilling game, held at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium, secured the Congolese team's advancement to the next round as one of the tournament's top third-placed teams.
The match began with a strong performance from Uzbekistan. Eldor Shomurodov scored in the 10th minute with an open-field goal, giving Uzbekistan an early lead. DR Congo's N. Mbuku thought he had equalized in the 17th minute, but his goal was ruled out by VAR for a foul, leaving the score at 0-1 by halftime.
Second-Half Surge by DR Congo
The second period saw DR Congo take full control. Yoane Wissa leveled the score with a penalty in the 68th minute, bringing the game to 1-1. Just nine minutes later, Flory Mayele, who had replaced Cédric Bakambu in the 51st minute, scored an open-field goal to put DR Congo ahead at 2-1.
In stoppage time, Wissa sealed the victory with his second goal, finalizing the score at 3-1. This performance highlighted DR Congo's dominance, with 58% possession and 18 shots (four on target), compared to Uzbekistan's mere three attempts (one on target). The match also featured 15 fouls by the Uzbek team against six by the African side.
Group K Standings Finalized
The game saw a total of five yellow cards, with three for DR Congo (Sadiki, Mbuku, and Moutoussamy) and two for Uzbekistan (Khusanov and Nasrullaev). With this outcome, Group K's standings were set: Colombia topped the group with 7 points, Portugal followed with 5, and DR Congo claimed third place with 4 points as the best third-placed team. Uzbekistan exited in last place, without points and a goal difference of -9 across three matches.
Not only was the Congolese victory a significant achievement for this tournament, but it also marked a historic return to the World Cup knockout stages after 52 years since their previous participation in 1974 as Zaire. For Uzbekistan, this tournament was a landmark as the first Central Asian team to compete in a World Cup, though they did not manage to earn any points in the group stage.
Wissa was the standout player, not only for his double against Uzbekistan but also for scoring DR Congo's first-ever World Cup goal in their opening match against Portugal. He has emerged as the key offensive force for his national team in this tournament.
FAQs about DR Congo's World Cup Journey
How did DR Congo qualify for the next round of the World Cup?
DR Congo advanced to the next round of the World Cup by finishing as one of the best third-placed teams in the group stage, with a total of 4 points.
What was significant about Wissa's performance in the match against Uzbekistan?
Yoane Wissa was instrumental in DR Congo's victory over Uzbekistan, scoring twice to lead his team to a 3-1 comeback win, showcasing his status as a crucial offensive player for his squad.