The Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) is set to return to the World Cup stage after 52 years.
On June 18 at 2 a.m. KST, DR Congo will face Portugal in their opening match of Group K at the 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup, which also includes Uzbekistan and Colombia.
This marks DR Congo's second World Cup appearance, with their first being in the 1974 West Germany tournament when they were known as Zaire. The country was called Zaire from 1971 until 1997, when it adopted its current name.
The memories from 1974 are not favorable. Competing as Zaire, DR Congo lost all three group stage matches without scoring a goal, conceding 14 in total. They suffered defeats of 2-0 to Scotland, 9-0 to Yugoslavia, and 3-0 to Brazil, concluding their first World Cup experience.
In this return match, DR Congo will face a strong opponent in Portugal, which is considered a top contender in Group K, featuring stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, and Vitinha. If Ronaldo scores in this tournament, he will become the first player to score in six different men's World Cups.
DR Congo also boasts several players with experience in European leagues, including captain Chancel Mbemba, Axel Tuanzebe, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Cedric Bakambu, and Yoann Wissa, who form the core of the national team.
The expanded tournament format now includes 48 teams, allowing not only the top two teams from each group but also the eight best third-placed teams to advance to the knockout stage. While Portugal and Colombia are viewed as frontrunners in the group, DR Congo could still aim for a spot in the tournament's next phase depending on the outcomes of their matches against Uzbekistan and Colombia.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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