DR Congo head coach Sebastien Desabre is hoping they put on a good showing at the 2026 World Cup, where their campaign gets underway against Portugal at the NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas on Wednesday.
Kick-off is at 7pm CAT (SA, GMT+2).
Current form:
The Leopards are making their first appearance at the global showpiece since 1974, but their preparations were heavily disrupted due to an Ebola outbreak back home, which saw them complete a mandatory 21-day quarantine before entering the United States.
Desabre's squad had to move their planned training camp from Kinshasa to Belgium at the end of May before playing their final two warm-up matches against Denmark and Chile in Europe.
DR Congo drew 0-0 with the Danes on 3 June and were beaten 2-1 by La Roja six days later, and Desabre was pleased with how his players adapted to a difficult situation.
The team formerly known as Zaire had qualified for the tournament via the playoffs when they ran out 1-0 victors over Jamaica after extra time on 31 March.
Selecao das Quinas lost just one of their six qualifiers - a 2-0 defeat to the Republic of Ireland - to finish top of their group and they are unbeaten in 2026.
Roberto Martinez's side drew 0-0 with Mexico on March 28 before recording a 2-0 against USA three days later, while they wrapped up their preparations with back-to-back 2-1 victories over Chile and Nigeria.
Portugal have featured at the last six editions, with their best performance coming in 2006 when they reached the semifinals before going on to finish fourth.
What was said:
DR Congo head coach Sebastien Desabre
"We adapted to the situation. We had to focus as we have had to adapt often. That is what we did. We worked well, we played two tough friendlies and here we are. Now it is another step for us.
"It has been a while since the people have seen the team at the Wold Cup. We already had the honour of qualifying for the finals. Now it is up to us to put up a good showing in this tournament."
Players to watch:
Portugal - Bruno Fernandes enjoyed a stellar season with Manchester United, setting a new record for the most assists (21) while also contributing nine goals as they finished third to qualify for the UEFA Champions League. The 31-year-old midfielder scored his first hat-trick for his country in the 9-1 drubbing of Armenia in November 2025 and also found the back of the net against La Roja earlier this month, while providing both assists against the United States.
DR Congo - Yoane Wissa played a crucial role for the Leopards in qualifying before a knee injury sidelined him for the final four months of 2025. The 29-year-old striker struggled to make an impact for Newcastle as a result following his move from Brentford in September 2025, scoring just one goal in 19 Premier League appearances. Wissa, who registered three goals and three assists in qualifying, will be hoping to prove his fitness at the World Cup.
Head-to-Head: N/A
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