Congo DR v Uzbekistan prediction, lineups & World Cup 2026 tips

Congo DR need a win at Mercedes-Benz Stadium to keep their Round of 32 hopes alive. Uzbekistan, bottom of Group K with zero points, face a last chance to save their debut World Cup campaign. Here is everything you need to know.

Jon Fisher

Published

Sat 27 Jun, 02:44

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Congo DR

3–1

Full time

Uzbekistan

Sun 28 Jun, 00:30•Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Sébastien Desabre's Congo DR come into the closing act of Group K at the FIFA World Cup 2026 knowing that nothing less than three points will do. A 1-1 draw with Portugal on Matchday 1, Yoane Wissa heading home the Leopards' first-ever World Cup goal, gave this campaign a historic opening. A narrow 1-0 defeat to Colombia on Matchday 2 then left them third in the group on one point, needing a win and some favourable arithmetic to advance as one of the eight best third-placed teams in the expanded 48-team format.

For Congo DR, this is also a homecoming of sorts. The Leopards are back at the World Cup for the first time since 1974, when they appeared as Zaire. Every player in Desabre's 26-man squad is making their debut at the tournament. They have carried themselves with more composure than the occasion might have suggested, limiting both Portugal and Colombia to a combined two goals, but they have mustered very little going forward, averaging 0.5 goals per game and just 1.5 shots on target across their two matches. Wissa's set-piece equaliser against Portugal remains the only goal in 180 minutes. That has to change in Atlanta.

Last 6 · most recent left

Congo DR

LDW0 D1 L1

Uzbekistan

LLW0 D0 L2

World Cup · season 2026 · Group KLive snapshot

#	Team	P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Colombia	3	2	1	0	+3	7
2	Portugal	3	1	2	0	+5	5
3	Congo DR	3	1	1	1	+1	4
4	Uzbekistan	3	0	0	3	-9	0

Last 1 meetings · most recent first

27 Jun 26Congo DR3–1UzbekistanCongo DR

Home wins

Draws

Away wins

Goals · H / A

3 / 1

Uzbekistan, managed by former Italy World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro, are making their debut at the FIFA World Cup 2026, the first Central Asian nation ever to reach the tournament. The occasion has proved overwhelming. A 3-1 opening loss to Colombia was followed by a 5-0 hammering at the hands of Portugal, a result described as Uzbekistan's worst World Cup defeat and the second-largest defeat suffered by an Asian team in group-stage history. Cannavaro's side have conceded eight goals, have a goal difference of minus-seven and sit bottom of Group K with zero points. Even a win here would leave them dependent on a string of other results to progress. Abbosbek Fayzullaev, who scored Uzbekistan's only tournament goal against Colombia, and captain Eldor Shomurodov, the country's all-time leading scorer with 44 international goals, are their principal threats. Both will need a performance well above what this group stage has produced.

Team news for Congo DR v Uzbekistan

Congo DR: No confirmed injury withdrawals from the squad. Defender Rocky Bushiri was replaced before the tournament by Aaron Tshibola, who has been available throughout. Captain Chancel Mbemba anchors the back line, with Axel Tuanzebe and Arthur Masuaku alongside him. Wissa leads the attack with Cédric Bakambu in support. No suspensions reported.

Uzbekistan: No fresh injury concerns reported ahead of the final group fixture. Goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov was at fault for an own goal in the Portugal defeat; Utkir Yusupov may retain the gloves. Cannavaro made changes at half-time against Portugal, bringing on Akmal Mozgovoy and Khojiakbar Alijonov, and further rotation is possible given the heavy defeat. Shomurodov leads the line, yet to score at this World Cup.

Congo DR4-4-2

1GLionel Mpasi Nzau
2DAaron Wan-Bissaka
22DChancel Mbemba
4DAxel Tuanzebe
26DArthur Masuaku
7MNathanaël Mbuku
8MSamuel Moutoussamy
14MNoah Sadiki
9MBrian Cipenga
20FYoane Wissa
17FCédric Bakambu

Manager · Sebastien Desabre

Uzbekistan3-4-2-1

12GAbduvokhid Nematov
2DAbdukodir Khusanov
26DJakhongir Urozov
5DRustam Ashurmatov
3MKhozhiakbar Alizhonov
6MAkmal Mozgovoy
7MOtabek Shukurov
13MSherzod Nasrullaev
17FDostonbek Khamdamov
22FAbbosbek Fayzullaev
14FEldor Shomurodov

Manager · Fabio Cannavaro

Congo DR v Uzbekistan kicks off at 00:30 BST on Sunday 28 June 2026. UK viewers can watch live on BBC and stream via BBC iPlayer. US viewers can watch on FS1, with coverage also available on the FOX One app.

Congo DR and Uzbekistan have never previously met, this is the first-ever competitive or recorded encounter between the two nations.
Uzbekistan have conceded eight goals in two group games, an average of 4.0 per match, and have a group-stage goal difference of -7.
Congo DR have averaged just 0.5 goals per game at this World Cup (1 goal in 2 matches) and failed to score in their Matchday 2 defeat to Colombia.
Uzbekistan's 5-0 loss to Portugal on 23 June is described as the second-largest defeat ever suffered by an Asian team in World Cup group-stage history.
A Congo DR win would take them to 4 points, putting them in contention among the best third-placed sides in the expanded 48-team format. A draw or defeat almost certainly ends both teams' tournaments.

Headline prediction · our pick

✓ HitConfidence · medium

match result: congo dr to win

Congo DR have been the better side across both group games, they held Portugal and were beaten by a single late goal against Colombia. Uzbekistan have been defensively porous throughout, shipping eight goals and offering limited attacking output beyond Fayzullaev. The Leopards need the win and have both the structure and the individual quality through Wissa to get it. Uzbekistan, meanwhile, are running on empty and face an opponent with far more to play for. Congo DR should edge it, though the lack of cutting edge from Desabre's side means a clean-sheet win is no certainty.

Best Price3/4bet365 · score 2-0

✓ Prediction landed

TIP 01✗ Miss

Correct Score: 2-0

Congo DR have kept their two group games tight defensively, conceding only twice across 180 minutes. Uzbekistan have scored just once in the tournament and their attacking xG of 0.7 per game is low. A 2-0 win fits both Congo DR's need to improve their goal difference and Uzbekistan's demonstrated inability to find the net against organised sides. The odds of around 11/2 carry clear value given the profile of both teams.

TIP 02✗ Miss

Over 2.5 Goals: Under

Neither side has found goals easy to come by against top opposition. Congo DR have scored once in two games; Uzbekistan once. The combined match average across both teams' two fixtures is well under three goals when you strip out the Portugal-Uzbekistan outlier. Under 2.5 at Evens reflects the likely pattern of a tight, low-scoring contest where Congo DR win without it becoming a thriller.

TIP 03✗ Miss

Both Teams to Score: No

Congo DR have kept clean sheets in neither group game, but Uzbekistan have scored only once in two matches and that came against a Colombian side momentarily vulnerable from a set piece. Against a compact Congolese back line featuring Mbemba, Tuanzebe and Wan-Bissaka, Shomurodov and Fayzullaev will find it hard to register. BTTS No at 9/10 is worth including, with Congo DR the more likely side to keep a clean sheet.

TIP 04✓ Hit

Anytime Goalscorer: Yoane Wissa

Wissa scored Congo DR's only goal of the tournament against Portugal and leads the line in Desabre's setup. Uzbekistan's defence has been repeatedly beaten for pace in this group and Wissa's movement on the shoulder of the last defender is exactly the profile that exploits that. With Congo DR needing goals to strengthen their third-placed ranking, Wissa will be in the game's most dangerous positions from the first whistle.

TIP 05✓ Hit

Draw No Bet: Home

For those who want insurance against a draw, Draw No Bet on Congo DR at 2/7 protects against the one scenario, a stalemate, that would knock both sides out. Congo DR's superior defensive record in this tournament and Uzbekistan's catastrophic group stage make a Leopards win the most likely outcome, but the Draw No Bet removes the risk of your stake going down on a goalless draw.

Build the Congo DR v Uzbekistan bet

BetFootball Builder · 3 Legs✗ Miss

Home Win

✓ Hit

Match Result

3/4

Congo DR win anchors the builder. They have the defensive structure to limit Uzbekistan and the individual quality in Wissa to win the game. This is the leg that defines the bet, everything else flows from the Leopards taking three points in Atlanta.

✗ Miss

Both Teams to Score

9/10

Pairing Congo DR to win with BTTS No removes correlated risk. Uzbekistan have scored just once in two games and face a back five that has conceded only twice in 180 minutes. If Congo DR win without conceding, both legs land simultaneously. The combination sits at around 11/4 in a builder and is not directly correlated in the way a scoreline pick would be.

Yoane Wissa

✓ Hit

Anytime Goalscorer

7/4

Adding Wissa as anytime scorer completes the builder without double-counting the result legs. A Congo DR win with a clean sheet still lands regardless of who scores, Wissa appearing on the scoresheet is an independent event that adds value to the builder without voiding either of the other two legs. His pace against a defensively exposed Uzbekistan side makes this the strongest name to pick from both squads.

Combined Price

57/7

Stake£10.00

Returns£91.44

Profit+£81.44