DR Congo Reach World Cup For First Time Since 1974

The Democratic Republic of Congo have booked their spot at the FIFA World Cup for the first time in over half a century, edging past Jamaica 1-0 in the intercontinental play-off final on Tuesday at the Estadio Akron in Mexico.

The Leopards’ last World Cup appearance dates back to 1974, when the nation competed under the name Zaire.

It was Axel Tuanzebe who broke the deadlock in the 100th minute, delivering the decisive moment in a fiercely competitive match that had remained scoreless through ninety minutes and deep into extra time.

However, the road to qualification has not been without controversy. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had filed a petition against DR Congo following the African playoffs, in which the Leopards knocked out the Super Eagles on penalties in November 2025.

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The NFF subsequently raised concerns with FIFA, alleging that the Congolese FA had improperly cleared several players for national team duty in violation of the country’s citizenship laws.

The federation further claimed that a number of the players in question had featured in the African playoffs final against Nigeria.

FIFA ultimately dismissed the petition, though the NFF has since announced its intention to appeal the ruling.

As for their 2026 World Cup campaign, DR Congo have been placed in Group K, where they will go up against Portugal, Colombia, and Uzbekistan in the tournament co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.