DR Congo's 2026 World Cup campaign came to an end in the Round of 16 following a 2-1 defeat to England this weekend. As reported by edition.mv, the Leopards took an early lead through Brian Cipenga but ultimately succumbed to a late Harry Kane brace.
How did the match unfold?
The game in Atlanta turned in England's favour during the closing stages. Cipenga, the Almeria winger, had beaten Jordan Pickford with a low, hard shot early on, silencing the majority of the crowd. That lead held for a long time, even forcing England manager Thomas Tuchel to intervene during a hydration break to settle his rattled players, including Jude Bellingham who was shown a yellow card.
England created several chances, with a powerful Bellingham header well saved by DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi and a Marcus Rashford effort blocked on the line by Aaron Wan-Bissaka. But it was the experience and finishing of Harry Kane that proved decisive, with the England captain scoring two late goals to complete the turnaround.
What is the takeaway from Congo's campaign?
This elimination concludes a historic World Cup participation for DR Congo, who were returning to the tournament after a 52-year absence. Until a few weeks ago, the team had never earned a point or scored a goal in the competition. Reaching the knockout stage and pushing one of the tournament favourites for most of the match is a notable achievement.
The Leopards finished second in Group L during the initial phase, behind England. You can review the details of their group stage on our stats page. The loss to the Three Lions, however painful, does not diminish the positive impact of a team that captured the attention of neutrals.
What are the next challenges?
Focus now shifts to qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. DR Congo has been drawn in Group E alongside Zimbabwe, Equatorial Guinea, and Sierra Leone. A significant test awaits on October 6th with an away trip to Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe has recently seen its National Sports Stadium reinstated by CAF after a 1,756-day ban, as reported by Pressreader. The Warriors only won one of their nine 'home' matches played abroad during that period, a factor that hurt their recent qualifying campaigns. They will now host DR Congo under normal conditions, promising a fierce contest. The full qualifying schedule can be found on our fixtures page.
Where can fans watch upcoming matches?
For supporters in the United Kingdom looking to follow future internationals, free-to-air viewing options remain plentiful. The website Toffeeweb.com confirms that the BBC and ITV, along with their streaming platforms BBC iPlayer and ITVX, broadcast all 2026 World Cup matches for free. This model typically extends to other major competitions.
This means the Leopards' upcoming qualifiers should be accessible through these channels or their international equivalents. For fans preparing, the current national team squad can be viewed on our squad page.
The 2026 World Cup chapter is now closed for DR Congo. The team must build on the experience gained and the momentum generated to confidently approach the 2027 AFCON qualifiers, where the goal will be to secure a spot at another major tournament.
