The Democratic Republic of Congo and its players are at the heart of several football news stories on September 5, 2026, covering preparation, a transfer, and historic statistics. Striker Cédric Bakambu has finalized a move to Major League Soccer while the national team prepares for a friendly under unusual conditions.
Where is the DR Congo vs Chile friendly being played?
The sports.fr outlet reports that the friendly between DR Congo and Chile, scheduled for this Tuesday, will finally take place in Orléans. Initially set for La Linea de la Concepcion in Spain, the Andalusian town refused to host the Congolese squad due to an Ebola outbreak affecting the country.
The match will therefore be played at the Stade de la Source behind closed doors, with a 5 p.m. Kickoff. No TV coverage is planned on a French channel for this fixture, which serves as a final preparation step for the 2026 World Cup. The Leopards drew 0-0 with Denmark last week. Manager Sébastien Desabre is still fine-tuning his squad before the global tournament, as seen on our squad page.
Which Congolese player is moving to MLS?
Cédric Bakambu, the Leopards' striker, has signed a contract with San Diego FC, according to reports confirmed by Yahoo Sports and KSL.com. The former Real Betis player, aged 35, is signed through the end of the 2026 MLS season, with club options for 2027 and 2028.
San Diego FC's sporting director, Tyler Heaps, stated: "Cédric brings an incredible level of experience and proven quality to San Diego FC." Bakambu represented DR Congo at the 2026 World Cup, starting three games during the team's historic run to the Round of 16. He has 21 goals in 72 caps since his debut in 2015. His professional career totals 191 goals in 492 matches.
Who is in the all-time top scorers list?
A ranking published by Squawka places Harry Kane among the ten highest international goalscorers in history. The English striker scored six goals at the 2026 World Cup, including a brace against the Democratic Republic of Congo in the group stage.
Kane now sits ninth in this ranking with 85 goals, ahead of Hungarian legend Ferenc Puskás. Only four players have scored more World Cup goals than him. The Three Lions captain averages 0.71 goals per game for his country. DR Congo therefore faced one of the planet's best finishers during its first World Cup participation.
What is the Leopards' next competitive match?
After the friendly break, DR Congo will resume its path in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. According to a PressReader article citing the CAF schedule, the Leopards will travel to Zimbabwe for matchday two of these qualifiers on October 6.
The Congolese are in Group E alongside Zimbabwe, Equatorial Guinea, and Sierra Leone. This match will be held at the National Sports Stadium in Harare, a venue recently rehabilitated to host international matches again after a lengthy ban. You can check the full match schedule on our fixtures page.
How did DR Congo's World Cup group look?
DR Congo was drawn in Group K for the 2026 World Cup finals, according to a group preview mentioned by Fox Sports. The Leopards faced Portugal, Colombia, and Uzbekistan in their historic campaign.
The team finished third in this tough group, which allowed them to qualify for the Round of 16 as one of the best third-placed teams. It was there they were eliminated by Harry Kane's England. This first participation marked a turning point for Congolese football, with players like Bakambu, Yoane Wissa, and Chancel Mbemba playing central roles. The Leopards' next match is the friendly against Chile this Tuesday in Orléans.
