DR Congo 1-0 Jamaica: Africa to be represented by 10 teams at 2026 FIFA World Cup
by Devesh Jaganath | by Devesh Jaganath
The Leopards end 52-year wait to return to FIFA World Cup
March 31 will go down as one of the most memorable dates in the history of football in DR Congo, as it was the day that the Leopards ended their over half-century wait to qualify for a FIFA World Cup by beating Jamaica in the World Cup Qualification Inter-Confederation Playoff final.
The nation last featured at the global tournament back in 1974 and became the second-last team to secure their spot in the upcoming competition this year. The Leopards will now look forward to participating in Group K at the World Cup, alongside Portugal, Uzbekistan and Colombia.
Sebastian Desabre’s side finished second in Group B to Senegal during the CAF Qualifiers. They defeated Cameroon and confirmed our World Cup predictions in the second-round semi-final before pulling off a stunning upset by beating Nigeria on penalties in the final. Following the victory over Jamaica, Desabre said:
“Today we celebrate a historic qualification for the 2026 World Cup. It is the result of collective effort, sacrifices, and total commitment from the players, the staff, the federation, as well as the unwavering support of the government and the entire nation.”
The match hung in the balance through the first half, with both teams evidently cautious not to concede first. The final scoreline also ended at 0-0, but former England under-21 international Axel Tuanzebe stuck away what turned out to be the winner from a set-piece in extra time.
DR Congo’s Ministry of Labour and Employment said that as a result of the team’s “historic” feat, Wednesday was declared a public holiday, which sent celebrations roaring into the early hours of the morning.
Record 10 CAF nations to feature at 2026 FIFA World Cup
With DR Congo securing their spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, it is now confirmed that for the first time ever, Africa will be represented by 10 nations at the global tournament in North America this summer. CAF’s World Cup qualifiers include:
