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Only the qualified team between Iraq and Bolivia remains to be decided.
After Sweden, Turkey, Czechia and Bosnia advanced through the European playoffs, DR Congo claimed the first spot in the intercontinental playoffs this Tuesday (31).
After a goalless draw in regular time, the African side got the better of Jamaica 1-0 in extra time.
The match was played at Akron Stadium, in Mexico.
They will end a 52-year wait to play at a World Cup by securing their place as Africa’s 10th representative at the 2026 tournament.
Algeria, South Africa, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and Senegal are the others.
There was balance in terms of possession. But DR Congo were more clinical.
The goal for the team that pushed hardest for it only came in extra time.
From a corner kick, center-back Tuanzebe scored an "accidental" goal.
His first for the national team.
DR Congo still had a chance for a second, but Kayembe finished very poorly deep into extra time.
The ref got INJURED 😯
The final stretch of the second half of extra time brought an unusual substitution.
Referee Facundo Tello felt pain in his left calf and was unable to continue.
He was replaced by then-fourth official Darío Herrera – his compatriot.
Heading to their SECOND World Cup 🇨🇩
DR Congo’s only previous World Cup appearance came in 1974.
Back when the country was still called Zaire.
They were part of Group 2 and lost all three matches.
After losing 2-0 to Scotland, they conceded nine goals to Yugoslavia and three to Brazil.
They were the only team that failed to score at least one goal.
The place at the World Cup in Mexico, the United States and Canada began to be earned in the African qualifiers.
They finished second in Group B – two points behind leaders Senegal.
That secured them a spot in the African playoffs.
They beat Cameroon (1-0) and then overcame Nigeria on penalties 4-3 after a 1-1 draw in regular time and extra time.
What now?
The final spot will go to Iraq or Bolivia.
The match kicks off at midnight this Wednesday (April 1).
Iraq are in this position after securing a spot through the Asian playoffs.
Bolivia, meanwhile, kept their dream alive after finishing as South America’s seventh-best team and then beating Suriname.
See below how all the World Cup groups stand.
Group A
Mexico, South Korea, South Africa and Czechia
Group B
Canada, Qatar, Switzerland and Bosnia and Herzegovina
Group C
Brazil, Scotland, Haiti and Morocco
Group D
United States, Australia, Paraguay and Turkey
Group E
Germany, Ivory Coast, Curaçao and Ecuador
Group F
Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia and Sweden
Group G
Belgium, Egypt, Iran and New Zealand
Group H
Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde
Group I
France, Norway, Senegal and Iraq or Bolivia
Group J
Argentina, Algeria, Austria and Jordan
Group K
Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan and Democratic Republic of the Congo
Group L
England, Croatia, Ghana and Panama
Check the dates for all the matches here.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.
