Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

DR Congo Beats Uzbekistan 3-1, Advances to Round-of-32

6/29/2026

33 7 Full Breakdown

Summary

DR Congo Beats Uzbekistan

DR Congo defeated Uzbekistan 3-1 in Atlanta, securing a round-of-32 spot.
Yoane Wissa converted a 68th-minute penalty to level the match.
Substitute Fiston Mayele scored the go-ahead goal in the 78th minute after a deflection.
Wissa added a third goal in stoppage time, giving DR Congo third place in Group K and a best third-place berth.

Summary

DR Congo Qualifies

DR Congo earned its first World Cup win, defeating Uzbekistan 3-1 in Atlanta and qualifying as one of the eight best third-placed teams.
The victory eliminated South Korea from the tournament.
Iran’s progression remained undecided after the match.
Both DR Congo and Uzbekistan entered the game needing a win to stay in contention.

Summary

DR Congo Prepares

The DR Congo squad arrived in the United States while an Ebola outbreak disrupted their plans.
French-born striker Yoane Wissa and other Congolese diaspora members filled the stands and sang.
Coach Sébastien Desabre noted several players are in the English league and sign-ons give a tactical edge before the England knockout.
The 2026 World Cup includes ten African teams and DR Congo will face England in Atlanta on Wednesday.

History

Historical Context

In 2002 Senegal shocked defending champions France 1-0 in their World Cup debut, becoming the first African side to reach the quarter-finals since Cameroon in 1990. Their success, together with four African nations reaching that stage by 2022, spurred other teams such as DR Congo to invest in diaspora talent and aim for deeper tournament runs.

1 of 4

DR Congo Beats Uzbekistan

DR Congo defeated Uzbekistan 3-1 in Atlanta, securing a round-of-32 spot.
Yoane Wissa converted a 68th-minute penalty to level the match.
Substitute Fiston Mayele scored the go-ahead goal in the 78th minute after a deflection.
Wissa added a third goal in stoppage time, giving DR Congo third place in Group K and a best third-place berth.

1 / 4