DR Congo reaches World Cup round of 16 after 3-1 win over Uzbekistan

The Democratic Republic of Congo defeated Uzbekistan 3–1 in Atlanta, securing its first ever World Cup victory and advancing to the round of 16 as one of the eight best third‑placed teams. Yoane Wissa opened the scoring, added a second before halftime, and Fiston Mayele completed the comeback after a penalty converted by the Congolese side.

The win places DR Congo in the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co‑hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, where they will meet England. It marks a historic milestone for the Central African nation, which previously appeared in the tournament in 1974 under the name Zaire.

The result also affected other group outcomes, confirming Austria’s elimination if they lost to Algeria and shaping potential second‑round pairings for other teams.