The decisive encounter, held in Mexico, saw the African side overcome their Caribbean opponents with a narrow 1:0 victory. After a scoreless regulation period, the match moved into extra time, where defender Axel Tuanzebe found the back of the net in the 101st minute. His goal proved sufficient to send the "Leopards" to the world's premier football stage for only the second time in their history, their previous appearance dating back to 1974.
The DR Congo squad features several high-profile players currently competing in Europe's top leagues. The roster includes Brentford forward Yoane Wissa, Villarreal striker Cedric Bakambu, and West Ham United defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who previously played for Manchester United. They are joined by emerging talents such as Sunderland midfielder Noah Sadiki.
With this result, Uzbekistan’s path through the group stage is now fully defined. The national team will face a diverse range of opponents in Group K, including European powerhouse Portugal, South American side Colombia, and the newly qualified DR Congo.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted jointly by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19. This edition of the tournament will be historic as it marks the first time 48 nations will compete for the title.
