Story perspectives

DR Congo Beats Uzbekistan 3-1, Secures First Knockout

6/28/2026

Summary

DR Congo Wins

DR Congo defeated Uzbekistan 3-1 in Atlanta, securing a knockout match with England.
Nathan Mbuku’s equaliser was cancelled after VAR ruled Mbuku’s arm had struck Sherzod Nasrullaev.
Yoane Wissa (Newcastle United) converted a penalty after Abdukodir Khusanov tripped him, tying the game.
Wissa scored again in stoppage time, delivering DR Congo’s first World Cup win, a third-place Group K finish and its first knockout appearance after a 52-year absence.

Summary

Desabre Secures Spot

Coach Sébastien Desabre led DR Congo to its first World Cup knockout berth.
The win gave the nation its second World Cup appearance, the first since 1974 as Zaire.
DR Congo became the eighth African side to reach the round of 32 at the 2026 tournament.
A 1-1 draw with Portugal gave its World Cup point, making the win essential and putting DR Congo among surprise qualifiers like Cape Verde.

History

Historical Context

Cameroon’s 1990 World Cup run—defeating defending champions Argentina 1-0 and reaching the quarter-finals as the first African side to top a group in a 24-team finals—prompted FIFA to grant CAF an extra qualification slot for the next tournament. Decades later, Morocco’s 2022 semi-final appearance reinforced the continent’s rising competitiveness, echoing Cameroon’s breakthrough.

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DR Congo Wins

DR Congo defeated Uzbekistan 3-1 in Atlanta, securing a knockout match with England.
Nathan Mbuku’s equaliser was cancelled after VAR ruled Mbuku’s arm had struck Sherzod Nasrullaev.
Yoane Wissa (Newcastle United) converted a penalty after Abdukodir Khusanov tripped him, tying the game.
Wissa scored again in stoppage time, delivering DR Congo’s first World Cup win, a third-place Group K finish and its first knockout appearance after a 52-year absence.

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