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Colombia clinches Round of 32 with 1-0 win

6/24/2026

36 7 Full Breakdown

Summary

Colombia Secures Spot

Colombia earned a Round of 32 spot with a 1-0 win over DR Congo in Guadalajara.
Daniel Muñoz scored in the 76th minute after Juan Quintero’s through pass.
Goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi made five early saves, keeping DR Congo in the game.
Colombia rose to six points, topping Group K, and would clinch place with a draw against Portugal.
DR Congo stayed on one point and must beat Uzbekistan to stay alive.

Summary

Mpasi Saves

Lionel Mpasi made five saves in twenty minutes, matching Warren Barrett’s 1998 World Cup feat.
The Le Havre goalkeeper finished with nine saves, the most in Group K.
A hydration break was called as rain fell in Guadalajara, briefly slowing Colombia’s play.
Coach Sébastien Desabre led DR Congo to its first World Cup in 52 years, while fan Michel Kuka Mboladinga with a leopard-skin bodyguard drew cheers from Colombian supporters.

History

Historical Context

Zaire broke ground in 1974 as the first Sub-Saharan African side at a World Cup, losing all three games and finishing with a 0-14 goal deficit. After a 52-year gap, Desabre guided DR Congo to its 2026 debut, where goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi recorded nine saves, echoing Warren Barrett’s five-save effort, underscoring Africa’s rising World Cup competitiveness.

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Colombia Secures Spot

Colombia earned a Round of 32 spot with a 1-0 win over DR Congo in Guadalajara.
Daniel Muñoz scored in the 76th minute after Juan Quintero’s through pass.
Goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi made five early saves, keeping DR Congo in the game.
Colombia rose to six points, topping Group K, and would clinch place with a draw against Portugal.
DR Congo stayed on one point and must beat Uzbekistan to stay alive.

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