DR Congo take on Uzbekistan on Saturday aware that a convincing win could see them usurp Portugal and snatch second place in Group K from Cristiano Ronaldo and Co.
While Portugal take on pool leaders Colombia, DR Congo face the Uzbeks in Atlanta.
A defeat for Roberto Martinez’s side would open the door for the Africans to march through but they also have to overturn a six-goal swing.
It’s a tough ask but one they will take on with relish. A win of any description will almost certainly be enough for them to go through as one of the best third-placed finishers.
“They [Uzbekistan] are a very good team, I know some of the players from there. They never give up. But we are the same, it should be a very good game,” striker Simon Banza told Reuters. “We have had a goal since we came to the World Cup and that is to go far in the tournament.”
Uzbekistan can qualify but they also need a resounding win which seems a tall order for a team coached by former Italy defender Fabio Cannavaro, who won the tournament as a player in 2006.
They have scored just once in games with Colombia and Portugal.
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | |
| Colombia | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Portugal | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 4 |
| DR Congo | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 1 |
| Uzbekistan | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 8 | -7 | 0 |
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World Cup 2026: DR Congo v Uzbekistan team news
DR Congo have a fully fit squad to choose from although coach Sebastian Desabre could switch from a back five to a four-man defence given the need for goals. That could see Sunderland midfielder Noah Sadiki, who has been a surprise omission from the starting XI in the first two games, recalled.
Uzbekistan have no new issues.
DR Congo v Uzbekistan World Cup 2026 predicted line-ups
DR Congo: Mpasi; Wan-Bissaka, Mbemba, Tuanzebe, Masuaku; Mukau, Moutoussamy, Kayembe, Sadiki; Bakambu, Wissa
Uzbekistan: Yusupov; Khusanov, Abdullayev, Ashurmatov; Karimov, Shukurov, Khamrobekov, Nasrullaev; Fayzullayev, Urunov; Shomurodov
Where to watch DR Congo v Uzbekistan: TV channel, live online streams
Kick-off on Sunday is at 00:30 BST (19:30 ET on Saturday / 19:00 PT on Saturday). In the UK, live TV coverage is on BBC One.
Streaming on a vast range of devices is available through the BBC iPlayer app and BBC Sport website.
World Cup 2026: DR Congo v Uzbekistan stats
- Only Wales (64 years, between 1958 and 2022), Egypt (56 years, between 1934 and 1990) and Norway (56 years, between 1938 and 1994) have had longer gaps in successive World Cup participations than DR Congo
- Only Bolivia (first 5 games), Canada and Greece (first 4 games) have played more games at the tournament before scoring their first goal than DR Congo, who are yet to open their account
- Including play-offs, 10 of DR Congo’s 13 qualifying matches were drawn (2) or decided by a one-goal margin (6 wins, 2 losses), while keeping a clean sheet in eight of their 13 matches
- In African qualifying, only Gambia and Gabon (3 each) had more players with at least six goal involvements than DR Congo, for whom Cedric Bakambu (4 goals, 2 assists) and Wissa (3 goals, 3 assists) contributed six each
- Sebastien Desabre is at his third major tournament in charge of DR Congo, who the Frenchman guided them to fourth place at the 2023 AFCON and the round of 16 at the 2025 edition
- Uzbekistan are making their World Cup debut and aiming to become the first team since Slovakia in 2010 to reach the knockout stage on their maiden appearance
- They are one of only five teams to have reached the knockout stage of the AFC Asian Cup at each of the last six tournaments, alongside Iran, Iraq, Japan and Korea Republic.
- Qatar were the only team to beat Uzbekistan in their 16 qualifiers, scoring the winner in the 12th minute of added time at home
- Eldor Shomurodov was involved in more goals than any other Uzbekistan player in qualifying, contributing five goals and four assists
- Head coach Fabio Cannavaro played every minute as captain of winners Italy at the 2006 World Cup, with his appearances at four editions a joint-record for the Azzurri
- Appointed in October 2025, Cannavaro is in his second managerial spell with a national team after leading China PR in 2019
World Cup 2026: DR Congo v Uzbekistan prediction
DR Congo appear the stronger side on paper and we fancy them to get the win they need to move to four points. Whether they can score enough goals to potentially overtake Portugal is another matter.
Prediction: DR Congo 2-0 Uzbekistan
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