DR Congo

The Leopards carry one of African football's most evocative backstories into the 2026 World Cup. The nation reached the global finals once before, back in the 1970s under the name Zaire, when they became a trailblazer for sub-Saharan Africa on the sport's biggest stage. The decades since have brought continental triumphs and golden generations that never quite cracked qualifying, which makes this return feel less like a routine appearance and more like the closing of a very long circle.

Group K is a genuine geography lesson: Portugal bring European pedigree and a squad stacked with elite club talent, Colombia arrive with South American rhythm and tournament know-how, and Uzbekistan add the unpredictability of a side tasting the World Cup for the first time. For DR Congo, built around a physically imposing, Europe-based core, the blueprint is clear — stay alive against the heavyweight, then go toe-to-toe with the other two for a knockout berth.

The schedule opens with Portugal — 17 Jun 2026, 12:00 local at NRG Stadium, Houston, a baptism of fire under a Texas midday sun. Then comes Colombia — 23 Jun 2026, 20:00 local at Estadio Akron, Guadalajara, before the group closes with Uzbekistan — 27 Jun 2026, 19:30 local at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta (listed home).

The 48-team format works in the Leopards' favor: the top two in Group K advance automatically, and the eight best third-placed teams across all groups also reach the Round of 32. That means even a single win and a gutsy draw could be enough to extend this long-awaited return deep into the summer — and few stories at this tournament would resonate more.