After more than half a century in the wilderness, DR Congo have finally punched their ticket back to the FIFA World Cup, edging past Jamaica with a hard-fought 1-0 victory after extra time in Guadalajara, Mexico.
The decisive moment came deep into extra time when Axel Tuanzebe rose highest to meet a corner kick, thundering a header past the Jamaican goalkeeper in the 100th minute. His goal proved to be the difference in a tense, closely matched encounter that had remained deadlocked through regulation time.
Despite dominating large stretches of the match, the Congolese side endured moments of frustration. Twice, Cédric Bakambu thought he had given his team the lead, only for both efforts to be ruled out for offside.
Still, the Leopards maintained their composure and persistence, eventually finding the breakthrough when it mattered most.
Esimbi,
Mondial bolukaka yangooyo 🤝❤️@Presidence_RDC pic.twitter.com/6kL0cEb7A7— Ministère des Sports et Loisirs – RDC (@MinSport_Loisir) April 1, 2026
This historic qualification is masterminded by Sébastien Desabre, the former Uganda Cranes head coach who has revitalized the team since taking charge in August 2022.
Under his guidance, DR Congo have rediscovered their competitive edge on the global stage.
The triumph not only marks a long-awaited return to football’s biggest tournament, last reached in 1974, but also highlights Africa’s growing footprint at the 2026 edition. DR Congo become the continent’s tenth representative, joining heavyweights like Morocco, Senegal, and Ghana.
Looking ahead, the Leopards face a stern challenge in the group stage, where they are set to meet Portugal, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, alongside Colombia and Uzbekistan across host nations Mexico, Canada, and the United States in June.
In other intercontinental playoff action, Iraq secured their own World Cup berth with a 2-1 victory over Bolivia, sealing the final qualification spot in dramatic fashion.
