BREAKING: DR Congo Defeat Jamaica To Qualify For FIFA World Cup For First Time In 52 Years
The Democratic Republic of Congo sealed a historic return to the FIFA World Cup after Axel Tuanzebe struck an extra-time winner to secure a 1-0 victory over Jamaica in their intercontinental play-off in Guadalajara, Mexico.
The decisive moment arrived in the 100th minute when Brian Cipenga’s inswinging corner glanced off a defender and crashed into Tuanzebe, who bundled the ball home from close range. Celebrations were briefly halted for a VAR check for handball before the goal was confirmed.
Cedric Bakambu had earlier seen two efforts ruled out for offside during normal time, while Jamaica struggled to create a clear opening as the match drifted into extra time.
The win sends DR Congo to the World Cup for the first time in 52 years and completes the line-up for the expanded 48-team tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
DR Congo will begin their campaign in Group K against Portugal in Houston on June 17, 2026 before facing Colombia and Uzbekistan.
Below Are All The countries Qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Hosts: Canada, Mexico, United States
Asia: Australia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Uzbekistan
Africa: Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia, DR Congo
Concacaf: Curaçao, Haiti, Panama
Europe: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, Sweden, Czechia, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Oceania: New Zealand
South America: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay
2026 FIFA World Cup Group Stage Draw
Group A: Mexico, South Africa, Korea Republic, Czechia
Group B: Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, Türkiye
Group E: Germany, Curaçao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia
Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
Group I: France, Senegal, Iraq/Bolivia, Norway
Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
Group K: Portugal, DR Congo, Uzbekistan, Colombia
Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama
The 2026 finals will be the largest in World Cup history, expanding from 32 to 48 teams and spanning North America next summer. It will kick off on June 11 and end on July 19, 2026