DR Congo reaches World Cup knockout stage, celebrated by former Mazembe goalkeeper Kidiaba

Robert Muteba Kidiaba, former Mazembe goalkeeper and now goalkeeping coach for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, performed his iconic "victory dance" on 27 June 2026 to mark the national team's historic qualification for the knockout phase of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The achievement came after a 3 – 1 win over Uzbekistan, which secured third place in Group K behind Colombia and Portugal and earned the Congo a spot in the round of 16. Kidiaba is remembered for the same dance after Mazembe eliminated Brazil’s Internacional in the 2010 Club World Cup semifinals. The Congo will face England in the next round at Mercedes‑Benz Stadium in Atlanta, United States.

The celebration highlighted the country's first appearance in the World Cup knockout stage since its debut in the tournament, drawing attention to the growing stature of Congolese football on the global stage.