Congo's World Cup breakthrough.
Congo Becomes Eighth African Team to Advance to World Cup Round of 32
Congo became the eighth African team to reach the 2026 World Cup round of 32 on Saturday, beating Uzbekistan 3-1 in Atlanta. It marked the country's first-ever knockout stage appearance — and only their second World Cup in 52 years, AP News reported. Eight of Africa's 10 qualifying nations now advance, shattering the previous record of two.
Yoane Wissa led the charge with two goals, including a 91st-minute curling shot to seal the win. "It's only the second time we are in the World Cup, 52 years later," Wissa said after the match, per AP News. "Today we showed nothing is easy in football."
How Congo Came Back From a Goal Down
Uzbekistan struck first. Eldor Shomurodov lobbed the ball over the keeper in the 10th minute to put the debutants up 1-0. Congo held firm and turned the game around in a 23-minute burst. Wissa converted a penalty in the 68th minute. Substitute Fiston Mayele dinked in a second in the 78th minute. Wissa then sealed it with a low curling shot in the 91st, Newsday reported.
Mayele captured the moment after the final whistle. "It's really historic for our country," he said, per Newsday. "The first win and the first knockout stage. We're proud to be Congolese." The match drew a crowd of roughly 70,000 fans at Atlanta Stadium.
Africa's Best-Ever World Cup Performance by the Numbers
Africa sent 10 teams to the 2026 World Cup — the most ever. Eight of them made the round of 32, according to Yahoo Sports. Those teams are Morocco, South Africa, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cape Verde, Egypt, and Congo. The old record was just two African teams reaching the knockouts in a single tournament, set in 2014 and matched in 2022.
The 2026 tournament is the first with a 48-team format. That expansion created the round of 32, giving more nations a path into the knockout stage. Analysts say the results still reflect real growth in African soccer, not just a numbers game. Cape Verde and Congo emerged as two of the biggest surprises on the continent, per WKYC.
Congo's 52-Year Journey Back to the World Cup
Congo's only previous World Cup was in 1974, when the nation competed as Zaire. They became the first sub-Saharan African team at a World Cup but left without a single point or goal. The team is widely remembered for a strange incident during a free kick against Brazil. Now, 52 years later, they have not just returned — they have advanced.
Congo secured their spot in 2026 through an inter-continental playoff, beating Jamaica 1-0 with a 100th-minute goal. Head coach Sébastien Desabre rebuilt the squad from scratch. "I had total belief it was possible," he said, per reports. Congo drew 1-1 with Portugal to open the group stage — a result that set the tone for their run.
Congo Face England Next, With Nothing to Lose
Congo's reward is a round of 32 match against England, scheduled for July 1 at Atlanta Stadium. Congo finished with 4 points in Group K — one win, one draw, one loss. They advanced as one of the best third-place finishers. President Felix Tshisekedi called the match against Uzbekistan "a moment of national unity" before kickoff, according to Winnipeg Free Press.
Back home in Kinshasa and Goma, celebrations broke out after the final whistle. The team has become a rare symbol of pride in a country of 100 million people often divided by conflict. Congo's FIFA ranking is expected to rise sharply after this run. Whatever happens against England, history has already been made.
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