COD
FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 · GROUP K · POT 2

DR Congo
World Cup 26-man squad

Manager Sébastien Desabre · French head coach since 2022. AFCON experience with Uganda — led DR Congo to the 2024 AFCON semi-finals and engineered the country's first World Cup in 52 years.
MD1 Jun 17 vs Portugal MD2 Jun 23 vs Colombia MD3 Jun 27 vs Uzbekistan
1th World Cup appearance · best finish: Group stage (1974)
26
Squad size
28.5
Avg. age
26 / 26
Overseas-based
0 / 26
WC veterans / Debutants
TEAM STORY

Sébastien Desabre's (French) DR Congo announced their final 26 on May 18. This is DR Congo's first World Cup in 52 years (since West Germany 1974 as Zaire) — the second-ever. Captain Chancel Mbemba (Lille, all-time leader with 109 caps) leads the historic return.

Backbone: Mbemba + Yoane Wissa (Newcastle, 19 Premier League goals in 2024-25) + Aaron Wan-Bissaka (West Ham, ex-Manchester United) + Axel Tuanzebe (Burnley) + Cédric Bakambu (Real Betis, 21 international goals — second on the all-time list). Four Premier League players and a Ligue 1-heavy squad — many British/French-developed.

Group K fixtures: June 17 vs Portugal (Ronaldo's final stage) → June 23 vs Colombia → June 27 vs Uzbekistan. A first World Cup win since 1974 and a knockout berth are realistic — 52 years of longing finally rewarded.

PREDICTED XI

LIKELY 4-2-3-1.

Desabre's preferred 4-2-3-1. Wissa (Newcastle, 19 PL goals in 2024-25) or Bakambu at No.9, with Kakuta in the hole and Bongonda/Elia on the wings. Edo Kayembe and Pickel hold midfield, with captain Mbemba alongside ex-Man Utd Tuanzebe at CB, and Wan-Bissaka/Masuaku at full-back.

4-2-3-1 (predicted)
KEY PLAYERS

KEY PLAYERS.

The five players who set the tone in the group stage — by role and trait.

22
CB · DF
Chancel Mbemba
Lille · 31 · Ligue 1
109 caps · 7G WC debut
Captain & all-time caps leader (109)
CAPTAIN
20
ST · FW
Yoane Wissa
Newcastle United · 29 · Premier League
36 caps · 9G WC debut
Newcastle No.9
ACE
2
RB · DF
Aaron Wan-Bissaka
West Ham United · 28 · Premier League
12 caps · 0G WC debut
Manchester United-developed right-back
17
ST · FW
Cédric Bakambu
Real Betis · 35 · La Liga
68 caps · 21G WC debut
No.9, second on the all-time scoring list (21)
25
CDM · MF
Edo Kayembe
Watford · 28
34 caps · 2G WC debut
Midfield anchor
SQUAD

SQUAD 26.

GK GOALKEEPERS 3
DF DEFENDERS 8
MF MIDFIELDERS 8
FW FORWARDS 7
GROUP K

GROUP K.

POR
Portugal
POT 1
COD
DR Congo
POT 2
UZB
Uzbekistan
POT 3
COL
Colombia
POT 4
Wed, Jun 17
Portugal vs DR Congo
Houston Stadium · Houston, TX
DR Congo's first World Cup match in 52 years (since Zaire 1974) vs Pot 1 Portugal in Houston. Facing Cristiano Ronaldo's final stage — Mbemba leads a historic return.
View lineups →
MD1
Tue, Jun 23
Colombia vs DR Congo
Estadio Guadalajara · Guadalajara
Guadalajara clash vs Colombia. Containing James and Luis Díaz tests Wan-Bissaka and Mbemba — a knockout berth on the line.
View lineups →
MD2
Sat, Jun 27
Uzbekistan vs DR Congo
Atlanta Stadium · Atlanta, GA
Group decider vs Uzbekistan (debutants). Three points are required — Bakambu and Wissa's experience is the key.
View lineups →
MD3

Road to the final

Spoiler-free: the potential bracket route by final group position. No results shown.

Win Group K
  1. Round of 32 Jul 03 · Kansas City vs 3rd place (D/E/I/J/L)
  2. Round of 16 Jul 07 · Vancouver vs Winner of Match 85
  3. Quarter-finals Jul 11 · Kansas City vs Winner of Match 95
  4. Semi-finals Jul 15 · Atlanta vs Winner of Match 99
  5. Final Jul 19 · East Rutherford vs Winner of Match 101
Runners-up, Group K
  1. Round of 32 Jul 02 · Toronto vs Runners-up Group L
  2. Round of 16 Jul 06 · Arlington vs Winner of Match 84
  3. Quarter-finals Jul 10 · Inglewood vs Winner of Match 94
  4. Semi-finals Jul 14 · Arlington vs Winner of Match 97
  5. Final Jul 19 · East Rutherford vs Winner of Match 102
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