The Democratic Republic of Congo produced one of the standout comebacks of the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage, defeating Uzbekistan 3-1 in Atlanta to secure a historic place in the Round of 32. Trailing early in the contest, the Leopards responded with determination and quality as Yoane Wissa scored twice and substitute Fiston Mayele added another to complete an impressive turnaround.
The victory not only handed DR Congo their first-ever World Cup win but also earned Sebastien Desabre’s side third place in Group K with four points.
Their reward is a challenging knockout clash against England, while Uzbekistan bowed out after losing all three of their group-stage matches.
Uzbekistan Strike First After Bright Opening
The match started at a frantic pace as Uzbekistan nearly stunned DR Congo within the opening minute. Captain Eldor Shomurodov found the net straight from the kickoff, but the celebrations were cut short after the assistant referee flagged him offside.
The early warning did not stop Uzbekistan from attacking. In the 10th minute, Shomurodov finally got his goal after taking advantage of confusion in the Congolese defence. Goalkeeper Dimitry Bertaud Mpasi was caught off his line, allowing the experienced forward to lift the ball over him and give Uzbekistan a deserved 1-0 lead.
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With DR Congo needing victory to keep their World Cup dream alive, the early setback increased the pressure on Desabre’s men.
DR Congo Fight Back Before Half-Time
The Leopards thought they had drawn level in the 19th minute when Nathanael Mbuku finished a well-worked move. However, after a VAR review, the goal was ruled out because Mbuku’s arm caught Sherzod Nasrullaev during the attacking build-up.
Despite the disappointment, DR Congo continued pushing forward and created several dangerous attacks. Around the 35-minute mark, they appealed for a penalty after Silas Cipenga appeared to be pushed inside the penalty area by Akmal Alidzhanov, but play was allowed to continue.
Although they entered the break trailing by one goal, DR Congo looked increasingly dangerous as the first half progressed.
Wissa Leads the Comeback
The turning point arrived in the 68th minute when Abdukodir Khusanov brought down Yoane Wissa inside the penalty area. The referee immediately pointed to the spot, and Wissa showed remarkable composure by sending goalkeeper Utkir Nematov the wrong way to level the score at 1-1.
The equaliser completely changed the momentum of the match. DR Congo suddenly looked full of confidence, while Uzbekistan struggled to cope with the increasing pressure.
Only ten minutes later, substitute Fiston Mayele made an instant impact. The forward reacted quickest inside the penalty area to poke home the go-ahead goal in the 78th minute, completing a remarkable comeback and sending the Congolese supporters into celebration.
As Uzbekistan committed more players forward in search of an equaliser, space opened up for DR Congo on the counterattack. Deep into stoppage time, Wissa sealed the victory in spectacular fashion, firing home from distance in the 91st minute to make it 3-1 and confirm his side’s place in the knockout stage.
Wissa Continues Outstanding Tournament
The Newcastle United forward once again proved to be DR Congo’s biggest attacking threat. After scoring against Portugal earlier in the tournament, Wissa added two more goals against Uzbekistan to take his tally to three at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
His calm penalty under pressure and clinical late finish highlighted his importance to Desabre’s team, with the striker continuing to deliver on football’s biggest stage.
Group K Final Standings
The victory moved DR Congo to four points from three matches, enough to finish third in Group K behind Colombia and Portugal.
Final Group K Table
- Colombia – 7 points
- Portugal – 5 points
- DR Congo – 4 points
- Uzbekistan – 0 points
DR Congo finished the group with one win, one draw and one defeat, while Uzbekistan ended their campaign without collecting a single point.
Desabre Praises Players’ Character
Following the historic victory, DR Congo head coach Sebastien Desabre reserved special praise for his players and the fighting spirit they showed after conceding first.
The French coach said the team never lost belief despite falling behind and credited his squad for continuing to battle until the final whistle. According to Desabre, the players deserved all the recognition for producing such an important victory under pressure.
Cannavaro Reflects on Uzbekistan’s Campaign
Uzbekistan manager Fabio Cannavaro admitted his team produced an excellent first-half performance but struggled to maintain the same intensity after the break.
The Italian coach explained that his players had spent significant energy during the opening period and paid the price for small defensive mistakes in the second half. Despite exiting the tournament without a point, Cannavaro said the World Cup experience would help his young squad improve in the future.
England Await in the Round of 32
DR Congo now face one of their biggest tests yet as they prepare for a Round of 32 showdown against England.
Although England remain one of the favourites to lift the trophy, the Leopards have already shown they can compete against top-quality opposition. They held Portugal to a draw, narrowly lost to Colombia and produced an impressive comeback against Uzbekistan.
With Yoane Wissa enjoying the best form of his international career and confidence running high throughout the squad, DR Congo will believe they have every chance of causing another major upset when they face England in the knockout stage.
Their fearless display in Atlanta has already become one of the defining moments of their World Cup campaign, and the Leopards will now look to keep their dream alive against one of Europe’s strongest teams.
