The Democratic Republic of the Congo has secured a spot in the final of the FIFA Inter-Confederation Playoff Tournament, putting them one win away from their first World Cup appearance since 1974. After defeating Nigeria on penalties in the African playoff final, DR Congo was automatically seeded into the bracket. The tournament will take place in Mexico in March 2026.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo), known as the Leopards, are on the brink of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup after a strong performance in African qualifying. Finishing second in Group B behind Senegal, they advanced to the continental playoffs as one of the top four second-placed teams, joining Nigeria, Gabon, and Cameroon.
In the playoff semifinal held in Morocco two Thursdays ago, DR Congo edged Cameroon 1-0 with a stoppage-time goal from Chancel Mbemba. Three days later, they faced Nigeria in the final, with a 1-1 draw after extra time leading to a penalty shootout victory for DR Congo. This win ensures their qualification journey continues in the inter-confederation stage.
The FIFA Play-Off Tournament, set for March 2026 in Mexico—co-hosting the World Cup with Canada and the USA—features teams from six confederations: two from CONCACAF, one each from CONMEBOL, OFC, CAF, and AFC. It includes two brackets, with seeded teams like DR Congo automatically placed in the finals based on FIFA rankings.
DR Congo will compete in the first bracket final against one of Jamaica, Bolivia, Suriname, or New Caledonia, depending on the draw. Iraq is seeded in the second bracket final. The matches will occur in Monterrey and Guadalajara, with the two winners earning World Cup spots.
This marks DR Congo's first potential World Cup appearance since 1974, when the nation was known as Zaire.