FIFA World Cup 2026: DR Congo Dream of Historic Upset Against England
The Democratic Republic of Congo are preparing for the biggest match in their footballing history as they face England in the Round of 32 at the FIFA World Cup.
It marks the nation’s first appearance in the knockout stages in 52 years, a journey forged through adversity and resilience.
The Leopards’ path to the tournament has been anything but ordinary. After navigating 13 qualifiers, enduring a pre‑tournament quarantine due to an Ebola outbreak, and representing a nation scarred by decades of conflict, DR Congo have defied the odds to reach this stage.
‘It’s not easy in our country,’ said striker Yoane Wissa, whose two goals against Uzbekistan secured Congo’s first‑ever World Cup victory.
‘We came from far. We came from nothing to be here. Now we write our story with a black pen and we need to be proud.’
The squad carries strong ties to Europe, with 20 of the 26 players born outside Congo, many in France.
Among them are Premier League names familiar to English fans: Newcastle forward Wissa, Manchester United’s Aaron Wan‑Bissaka, and Axel Tuanzebe, who could face his former schoolmate Marcus Rashford in Atlanta.
Sunderland midfielder Noah Sadiki, once a Belgian youth international, also switched allegiance to join Congo’s cause.
‘There is a new generation that wants to help the people of the country,’ Sadiki told L’Equipe.
Led by French coach Sébastien Desabre, Congo eliminated African giants Cameroon and Nigeria in qualifying before defeating Jamaica in a play‑off to secure their place.
At the tournament, they held Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal to a 1‑1 draw, narrowly lost to Colombia, and then beat Uzbekistan 3‑1 to advance.
Their progress has been cheered on by thousands from the Congolese diaspora, turning stadiums into pockets of home support.
England, one of the tournament favorites, now stand in their way. But Congo’s players insist they will not be overawed.
‘Every time we wear this shirt, we think about the people back home,’ Wissa added. ‘We want peace, and we want to make them proud.’
