MONDIAL 2026 : LA RDC HONORÉE PAR LA FIFA, LES LÉOPARDS VERS LE SACRE À LA CAN 2027

The Democratic Republic of Congo finished the 2026 World Cup ranked 23rd out of 48 nations, marking their return to the competition after a 52-year absence. Under the guidance of Sébastien Desabre, the Leopards achieved a historic run, reaching the Round of 32 where they were narrowly eliminated by England (2-1). In a challenging Group K, the DRC surprised observers with memorable results: a historic draw against Portugal (1-1), a close defeat against Colombia (0-1), and then a spectacular victory against Uzbekistan (3-1) to secure qualification. In the Round of 16, the Leopards even took the lead against England through Brian Cipenga before conceding a brace to Harry Kane. This performance places the DRC fourth among the best African nations for the 2026 World Cup. The Leopards have also climbed in the FIFA rankings, reaching 41st place worldwide and breaking into the African top seven. Financially, this exceptional run has earned FECOFA an estimated $23.5 million from FIFA, confirming the DRC's return to the ranks of football's elite.