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.
Congo DR
UzbekistanSébastien 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.
Congo DRUzbekistan
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.
Line-ups
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
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
Where to watch Congo DR v Uzbekistan: TV and online streams
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.
Stats for Congo DR v Uzbekistan
- 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.