World Cup 2026 Colombia Eye Last 32 in DR Congo Showdown

GROUP K · WORLD CUP

Key Facts

—World Cup 2026 Colombia: Nestor Lorenzo’s side meet debutants DR Congo in Guadalajara on Tuesday night.

—Standings: Colombia lead Group K on three points after beating Uzbekistan 3-1; DR Congo have one.

—History: DR Congo are back at a World Cup for the first time since 1974, when they played as Zaire.

—Stakes: A win would push Colombia to the brink of the round of 32 with a game to spare.

—Venue: Estadio Akron, Guadalajara, kicking off at 7pm local time.

One side has waited fifty-two years to return to this stage. The other simply wants to make sure of the knockouts before the heat of a Guadalajara night.

World Cup 2026 Colombia chase an early knockout place

Colombia top Group K as they head to the Estadio Akron to face DR Congo. A second straight win would all but seal their place in the last 32.

Nestor Lorenzo’s team began with a 3-1 victory over the debutants Uzbekistan at the Azteca. They were made to work for it before pulling clear late on.

DR Congo, by contrast, opened with a draw that already meant something historic. Their point against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal was the first they have ever taken at a World Cup.

The two nations have never met before. They arrive in Guadalajara from very different points in their footballing journeys.

How both teams reached this point

Daniel Munoz put Colombia ahead against Uzbekistan, only for Abbosbek Fayzullaev to level with the Asian side’s first World Cup goal. Luis Diaz and substitute Jaminton Campaz then settled it.

Colombia carry a settled core, with James Rodriguez pulling the strings and Diaz the chief threat. Lorenzo’s group went unbeaten through long stretches of South American qualifying.

DR Congo, coached by Sebastien Desabre, fell behind to Joao Neves before Yoane Wissa headed an equaliser deep in first-half stoppage time. It was the Leopards’ first World Cup goal in any form.

They reached the finals through the inter-confederation play-offs, the hard road open to Africa’s near-misses. Few expected them to trouble Portugal as they did.

The numbers behind World Cup 2026 Colombia vs DR Congo

According to FIFA’s official Group K guide, Colombia sit 13th in the world ranking while DR Congo are 56th. That 43-place gap is the widest in any of Tuesday’s four fixtures.

By The Rio Times’ count, DR Congo have still never won a match at a World Cup. Their only previous finals, as Zaire in 1974, brought three defeats and a minus-14 goal difference without a single goal scored.

That makes Tuesday’s draw with Portugal, and Wissa’s goal, a genuine turning point for the programme. A first win would be uncharted territory in more than half a century of trying.

Colombia, meanwhile, have not gone beyond the quarter-finals at any World Cup, their 2014 high-water mark. A deep run in North America would be the most successful campaign in the country’s history.

The qualification picture

A Colombia win would lift them to six points, leaving the chasing pack no better than three. It would put Lorenzo’s side on the verge of the knockout rounds before their final match.

For DR Congo, a result against Colombia would keep their own qualifying hopes firmly alive. Two of the three teams behind Colombia are still separated by the finest of margins.

The group closes on June 27, when Colombia face Portugal and DR Congo meet Uzbekistan. Tuesday’s outcomes will shape what those games are worth.

The expanded format helps the underdogs, with the eight best third-placed teams also advancing. That safety net keeps even a defeat from being fatal for the Leopards.

Why it matters

For Colombia, this is a chance to control their own destiny rather than wait on others. Lorenzo will want the job done before a likely shootout with Portugal.

For DR Congo, every match now writes new history for a country starved of these nights. A nation of more than one hundred million has not seen its team win at this level in living memory.

That mix of ambition and nostalgia is what gives Guadalajara its edge on Tuesday. One team is chasing the present; the other is chasing the past.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do World Cup 2026 Colombia play DR Congo?

The Group K match kicks off on Tuesday, June 23, at the Estadio Akron in Guadalajara. Local kick-off is 7pm.

What happened in the first round of games?

Colombia beat Uzbekistan 3-1, while DR Congo drew 1-1 with Portugal. Those results left Colombia top and DR Congo third on goal difference.

Have DR Congo played at a World Cup before?

Yes, but only once, as Zaire in 1974. They lost all three matches and had never scored until Yoane Wissa’s goal against Portugal.

What does Colombia need to qualify?

A win would take Colombia to six points and to the brink of the round of 32. Even a draw would leave them well placed going into the final round.

Who are the key players to watch?

Luis Diaz and James Rodriguez lead Colombia’s attack, while Yoane Wissa carries DR Congo’s threat. Both forwards scored in the opening round.

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