After a 52-year absence, DR Congo have returned to the FIFA World Cup following a historic 1–0 victory over Jamaica on Tuesday night in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Axel Tuanzebe scored the decisive goal early in the first half of extra time after a tense and goalless draw in regulation time.
Prior to the match, Tuanzebe had expressed confidence that it would be the most important game of his career, and he lived up to that promise, delivering a historic moment for both himself and his nation.
Cedric Bakambu had two goals ruled out for offside during normal time, forcing the match into extra time to determine the winner.
Tuanzebe, perfectly positioned at the right moment, used his torso to convert in the 100th minute, sending DR Congo fans into wild celebrations.
There was a brief pause as VAR reviewed the goal for a potential handball, but it was ultimately awarded, sparking renewed celebrations among the Congolese players and supporters.
Both teams were chasing a dream of qualifying for the World Cup for only the second time in their history. In the end, DR Congo emerged victorious after extra time, securing their place at the tournament for the first time since 1974.
DR Congo have been drawn in Group K of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where they will face Portugal, Colombia, and Uzbekistan.
To reach the tournament, DR Congo finished second behind Senegal in their qualification group before advancing to the playoffs. There, they defeated Nigeria and Cameroon, before sealing qualification with victory over Jamaica.
They become the 10th African nation to qualify for the tournament, joining Morocco, South Africa, Tunisia, Senegal, Algeria, Egypt, Ghana, Cape Verde, and Ivory Coast.
Head coach Sébastien Desabre will be hoping for a significantly improved campaign compared to their only previous appearance in 1974, when they competed as Zaire.
On that occasion, they lost all three group-stage matches, conceding 14 goals, including a heavy 9–0 defeat to Yugoslavia in West Germany.
Meanwhile, Italy suffered another major disappointment, as they were eliminated by Bosnia and Herzegovina, missing out on the World Cup for the third consecutive time.
