DR Congo secures first World Cup win, advances to knockout stage

DR Congo secures first World Cup win, advances to knockout stage Yoane Wissa scores twice across the group stage as DR Congo returns to the world's biggest tournament after 52 years and makes history Share Add us on Google by Editorial Team Jun. 27, 2026 Fifty-two years is a long time to wait for anything. DR Congo waited that long just to get back to the World Cup.

Then they went ahead and won a match. The Democratic Republic of the Congo defeated Uzbekistan 3-1 on June 27, 2026, securing the nation’s first-ever World Cup victory and punching their ticket to the knockout stage. Yoane Wissa, a 29-year-old forward who nearly lost his sight in 2021, scored in both of DR Congo’s group stage matches, cementing himself as the face of one of the tournament’s best stories.

From 52 years of silence to four points in Group K DR Congo’s last World Cup appearance came in 1974, when the country was still known as Zaire. That tournament did not go well. The team was eliminated without a point, and the nation wouldn’t return to football’s grandest stage for more than half a century.

Advertisement On June 17, DR Congo drew Portugal 1-1 in their Group K opener. Wissa scored the country’s first-ever World Cup goal in that match. Earning a point against Portugal immediately signaled that this was not a team content with just showing up.

Ten days later came the match against Uzbekistan. DR Congo needed a result. They got more than that.

When Wissa converted a penalty to equalize, the momentum shifted decisively. DR Congo went on to win 3-1, finishing third in Group K with four points, enough to advance as one of the best third-place sides in the tournament. The group also included Colombia, meaning DR Congo navigated a genuinely difficult draw to reach the Round of 32.

The Yoane Wissa story Wissa, now 29, nearly lost his sight in 2021. His goal against Portugal was the country’s first World Cup goal in its history, scored against one of Europe’s most decorated sides. Then he did it again against Uzbekistan, converting from the penalty spot.

Two goals in two matches, both in moments where the outcome of the game hung in the balance. What comes next: England awaits DR Congo’s reward for their historic group stage is a likely Round of 32 matchup against England. DR Congo has already shown they can compete with elite opposition.

The 1-1 draw with Portugal wasn’t a backs-against-the-wall survival act. It was a legitimate result earned through quality play. For DR Congo, the first World Cup goal, the first World Cup win, and a place in the knockout rounds — all in a single tournament, after more than five decades away from the competition — have already made the 2026 World Cup transformative for DR Congo’s footballing identity.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy. SOCCER DR Congo secures first World Cup win, advances to knockout stage Yoane Wissa scores twice across the group stage as DR Congo returns to the world's biggest tournament after 52 years and makes history by Editorial Team Jun.

27, 2026 Share Add us on Google Fifty-two years is a long time to wait for anything. DR Congo waited that long just to get back to the World Cup. Then they went ahead and won a match.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo defeated Uzbekistan 3-1 on June 27, 2026, securing the nation’s first-ever World Cup victory and punching their ticket to the knockout stage. Yoane Wissa, a 29-year-old forward who nearly lost his sight in 2021, scored in both of DR Congo’s group stage matches, cementing himself as the face of one of the tournament’s best stories. From 52 years of silence to four points in Group K DR Congo’s last World Cup appearance came in 1974, when the country was still known as Zaire.

That tournament did not go well. The team was eliminated without a point, and the nation wouldn’t return to football’s grandest stage for more than half a century. Advertisement On June 17, DR Congo drew Portugal 1-1 in their Group K opener.

Wissa scored the country’s first-ever World Cup goal in that match. Earning a point against Portugal immediately signaled that this was not a team content with just showing up. Ten days later came the match against Uzbekistan.

DR Congo needed a result. They got more than that. When Wissa converted a penalty to equalize, the momentum shifted decisively.

DR Congo went on to win 3-1, finishing third in Group K with four points, enough to advance as one of the best third-place sides in the tournament. The group also included Colombia, meaning DR Congo navigated a genuinely difficult draw to reach the Round of 32. The Yoane Wissa story Wissa, now 29, nearly lost his sight in 2021.

His goal against Portugal was the country’s first World Cup goal in its history, scored against one of Europe’s most decorated sides. Then he did it again against Uzbekistan, converting from the penalty spot. Two goals in two matches, both in moments w