DR Congo produced a stirring second-half comeback to beat Uzbekistan 3-1 at Atlanta Stadium on Saturday, June 27, 2026, booking their place in the Round of 32 for the first time in their history. After Eldor Shomurodov had put Uzbekistan ahead early, a Yoane Wissa penalty, a Fiston Mayele finish and a stoppage-time third from Wissa turned the Group K contest on its head and sent the Congolese into the World Cup knockout stage for the very first time.
Key Takeaways
- DR Congo beat Uzbekistan 3-1 to advance from Group K as one of the eight best third-placed teams.
- It is the first time in DR Congo’s history that they have reached the World Cup knockout stage.
- Yoane Wissa scored twice, including a 68th-minute penalty, to inspire the comeback after Eldor Shomurodov’s early opener.
- Uzbekistan was eliminated, finishing at the bottom of Group K.
The DR Congo vs Uzbekistan World Cup 2026 matchup swung decisively in the second half, when the Congolese overwhelmed a tiring Uzbek side that had defended their early lead for more than an hour. Three goals in the closing 23 minutes completed a turnaround that carried DR Congo into the last 32 and ended Uzbekistan’s tournament.
How did DR Congo complete their second-half comeback?
The afternoon began badly for DR Congo. In the 10th minute, a mix-up at the back let Eldor Shomurodov in, and the Uzbekistan striker produced a composed chip over the goalkeeper to give his side a shock lead. Uzbekistan then dug in, and the score remained 1-0 in their favour deep into the second half as DR Congo pressed without reward.
The breakthrough came in the 68th minute. Abdukodir Khusanov brought down Yoane Wissa inside the box, and Wissa dusted himself off to convert the resulting penalty and level the match at 1-1. The equaliser transformed the contest. Ten minutes later, substitute Fiston Mayele — introduced at the interval — reacted quickest to a deflected Meschack Elia effort, poaching from close range to put DR Congo 2-1 ahead.
There was still time for the exclamation mark. In the first minute of stoppage time, Elia again turned provider, teeing up Wissa to sweep home his second of the game and make it 3-1. The three goals arrived after the 68th minute — more than DR Congo had managed in their entire previous World Cup history combined — and sparked jubilant scenes as the result confirmed their progress.
Why is this result historic for DR Congo?
This was a landmark day for Congolese football. DR Congo had appeared at only one previous World Cup — as Zaire in 1974 — where they lost all three matches without scoring. Their victory over Uzbekistan, 52 years later, was their first-ever win at the tournament, and it carried them into the knockout rounds for the first time in the nation’s history.
Yoane Wissa was the driving force behind the achievement. His brace not only rescued the game but announced DR Congo as one of the tournament’s surprise packages, joining fellow debutant qualifiers in reaching the last 32. For a squad blending Premier League experience with emerging talent, advancing from the group stage represents the finest moment in the country’s World Cup story.
What were the key statistics of the DR Congo vs Uzbekistan World Cup 2026 match?
The numbers reflect just how one-sided the contest was outside of Uzbekistan’s early goal. DR Congo controlled possession, dominated the shot count, and posted an expected-goals figure more than ten times that of their opponents, who scored with virtually their only meaningful chance of the game.
| Statistic | DR Congo | Uzbekistan |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 58% | 42% |
| Shots on target | 4 | 1 |
| Expected goals (xG) | 2.18 | 0.20 |
| Fouls | 6 | 16 |
Who were the standout performers and starters for each side?
Yoane Wissa was the undisputed man of the match, scoring twice — including the pressure penalty that turned the tie — to drag DR Congo into the knockout stage. Fiston Mayele made a decisive impact off the bench with the go-ahead goal, while fellow substitute Meschack Elia set up two of the three goals after coming on. For Uzbekistan, Eldor Shomurodov took his early chance superbly but was starved of service thereafter.
DR Congo Starting XI
- GK: Lionel Mpasi
- Defenders: Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Axel Tuanzebe, Chancel Mbemba, Arthur Masuaku
- Midfielders: Samuel Moutoussamy, Noah Sadiki, Brian Cipenga, Nathanael Mbuku
- Forwards: Yoane Wissa, Cédric Bakambu
Uzbekistan set up with a back three in front of goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov, with Abdukodir Khusanov, Rustam Ashurmatov and Akmal Mozgovoy at the heart of the defence. Otabek Shukurov and Abbosbek Fayzullaev featured in midfield, with Dostonbek Khamdamov supporting lone scorer Eldor Shomurodov in attack. The Uzbeks defended in numbers to protect their early lead before DR Congo’s second-half surge overwhelmed them.
What does this result mean for the Group K standings?
Victory lifted DR Congo to four points and third place in Group K, enough to progress as one of the eight best third-placed teams. Uzbekistan finished at the bottom of the group with no points and was eliminated. In the group’s other final-round fixture, Colombia and Portugal drew 0-0, a result that confirmed Colombia as group winners and Portugal as runners-up.
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colombia | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 7 |
| 2 | Portugal | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 1 | +5 | 5 |
| 3 | DR Congo | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 4 |
| 4 | Uzbekistan | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 11 | -9 | 0 |
What are the upcoming fixtures for both teams after this match?
The group stage is over, and DR Congo now advances to the single-elimination Round of 32, where they will face Group L winners England. It is a daunting draw, but one that gives the Congolese a chance to extend their historic run. Uzbekistan, meanwhile, exited the tournament after their first-ever World Cup appearance ended at the group stage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score of the DR Congo vs Uzbekistan World Cup 2026 match?
DR Congo won 3-1. Eldor Shomurodov gave Uzbekistan an early lead, before Yoane Wissa (penalty and stoppage time) and Fiston Mayele scored in the second half to complete the comeback.
Did DR Congo qualify for the knockout stage?
Yes. The win took DR Congo through to the Round of 32 as one of the eight best third-placed teams — the first time in their history that they have reached the World Cup knockout stage.
Who scored for DR Congo against Uzbekistan?
Yoane Wissa scored twice, in the 68th minute (from a penalty) and in stoppage time at 90+1, while substitute Fiston Mayele scored the go-ahead goal in the 78th minute.
Who does DR Congo play next in the Round of 32?
DR Congo will face England, the winners of Group L, in the single-elimination Round of 32.
