DR Congo World Cup Squad 2026: Full 26-Player Roster
The DR Congo World Cup Squad 2026 is set. Head coach Sébastien Desabre named his final 26 on May 18, with captain Chancel Mbemba leading the Leopards back to the World Cup for the first time since 1974, when they played as Zaire. Axel Tuanzebe’s 100th-minute winner over Jamaica on March 31 sealed the place and ended a 52-year wait.
This is a diaspora-built side. Yoane Wissa, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Noah Sadiki, and Tuanzebe all played 2025-26 in the Premier League, while Cédric Bakambu brings 21 international goals from Real Betis. Ranked 46th by FIFA in June 2026, the Leopards open Group K against Portugal, Colombia, and debutants Uzbekistan — every player in the squad a World Cup first-timer.
Here’s the full DR Congo squad list, schedule, key player breakdown, and Group K guide for the 2026 tournament.
DR Congo World Cup Squad 2026: Full 26-Player Roster
| Position | Player | Club | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Lionel Mpasi | Le Havre | 31 |
| GK | Timothy Fayulu | FC Noah | 26 |
| GK | Matthieu Epolo | Standard Liège | 21 |
| DF | Chancel Mbemba (C) | Lille | 31 |
| DF | Aaron Wan-Bissaka | West Ham United | 28 |
| DF | Axel Tuanzebe | Burnley | 28 |
| DF | Arthur Masuaku | Lens | 32 |
| DF | Gédéon Kalulu | Aris Limassol | 28 |
| DF | Joris Kayembe | Genk | 31 |
| DF | Dylan Batubinsika | AEL | 30 |
| DF | Steve Kapuadi | Widzew Łódź | 28 |
| DF | Aaron Tshibola | Kilmarnock | 31 |
| MF | Meschak Elia | Alanyaspor | 28 |
| MF | Samuel Moutoussamy | Atromitos | 29 |
| MF | Edo Kayembe | Watford | 27 |
| MF | Charles Pickel | Espanyol | 28 |
| MF | Gaël Kakuta | AEL | 34 |
| MF | Noah Sadiki | Sunderland | 21 |
| MF | Nathanaël Mbuku | Montpellier | 24 |
| MF | Ngal’ayel Mukau | Lille | 21 |
| MF | Brian Cipenga | Castellón | 28 |
| FW | Cédric Bakambu | Real Betis | 35 |
| FW | Théo Bongonda | Spartak Moscow | 30 |
| FW | Fiston Mayele | Pyramids FC | 31 |
| FW | Yoane Wissa | Newcastle United | 29 |
| FW | Simon Banza | Al Jazira | 29 |
(C) = captain. Ages are pre-tournament figures. Aaron Tshibola replaced the injured Rocky Bushiri.
For all 48 team squads, see our World Cup 2026 squads tracker.
Quick Stats
DR Congo’s roster spreads across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. The numbers that define it:
- Average age: 28.4 years
- Most-capped player: Chancel Mbemba (107 caps)
- Top scorer in the squad: Cédric Bakambu (21 international goals)
- Premier League players: 4 (Yoane Wissa, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Noah Sadiki, Axel Tuanzebe)
- Home-based players: 0 — every player is at a club abroad
- Youngest players: Matthieu Epolo, Noah Sadiki, and Ngal’ayel Mukau (all 21)
- Oldest player: Cédric Bakambu (35)
- World Cup debutants: all 26 players
Key Players to Watch
Chancel Mbemba (C), Lille
DR Congo’s record cap-holder (107) and on-field leader. The 31-year-old centre-back rebuilt his career at Porto and Marseille and buried the decisive penalty against Nigeria to seal the play-off. This team runs through him.
Yoane Wissa, Newcastle United
The Leopards’ most dangerous attacker, with nine international goals. The 29-year-old earned his Newcastle move after three sharp seasons at Brentford and brings pace, direct running, and a clinical finish to stretch Group K defences.
Cédric Bakambu, Real Betis
At 35, the veteran striker sits on 21 international goals — one short of Dieumerci Mbokani’s all-time DR Congo record. His movement, aerial threat, and set-piece presence could break that record in the United States.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka, West Ham United
One of the Premier League’s best one-on-one defenders, built over five years at Manchester United. He switched allegiance from England to give Desabre an elite, disciplined right-back.
Noah Sadiki, Sunderland
The squad’s breakout name. The 21-year-old midfielder held his own in the Premier League after a big-money move to Sunderland, breaking up play and driving forward — DR Congo’s engine for the future.
Axel Tuanzebe, Burnley
The man who sent DR Congo to the World Cup. His 100th-minute winner against Jamaica confirmed qualification, and he brings composure and Premier League experience to the back line.
DR Congo World Cup 2026 Schedule
DR Congo play all three Group K matches across the United States and Mexico. Kick-off times are listed in Eastern Time (ET) and West Africa Time (WAT) for fans back home in Kinshasa.
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Kickoff (ET) | Kickoff (WAT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 17, 2026 | Portugal | Houston Stadium (NRG Stadium), Houston | 1:00 PM | 6:00 PM |
| June 23, 2026 | Colombia | Guadalajara Stadium (Estadio Akron), Zapopan | 10:00 PM | 3:00 AM* |
| June 27, 2026 | Uzbekistan | Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium), Atlanta | 7:30 PM | 12:30 AM* |
*Next day in Kinshasa. WAT = West Africa Time (UTC+1). Kick-off times follow the official FIFA match schedule, with group positions confirmed from the December 5, 2025 draw.
DR Congo face their toughest test first against Portugal in Houston, with the most winnable game last against Uzbekistan in Atlanta. In their final warm-ups, the Leopards drew Denmark 0-0 in Liège on June 3 and lost 2-1 to Chile in France on June 9.
Track every day fixture on the full 2026 World Cup schedule.
How DR Congo Qualified for World Cup 2026
DR Congo finished second in their CAF qualifying group on 22 points, behind winners Senegal and ahead of Sudan, South Sudan, Togo, and Mauritania. As one of the four best runners-up across Africa’s nine groups, the Leopards reached a knockout play-off in Morocco.
Mbemba’s late goal beat Cameroon in the semifinal on November 13, 2025. Three days later, DR Congo drew Nigeria 1-1 and won 4-3 on penalties — substitute goalkeeper Timothy Fayulu saved two spot-kicks before Mbemba converted the decider. FIFA later rejected eligibility complaints from Nigeria and Cameroon, confirming DR Congo’s place.
In the March 2026 inter-confederation play-offs in Mexico, DR Congo beat Bermuda 2-0 in Guadalajara on March 25. Six days later, Tuanzebe’s 100th-minute winner against Jamaica booked their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Head Coach: Sébastien Desabre
Sébastien Desabre is a 49-year-old French coach born on August 2, 1976, in Valence. He took the DR Congo job in 2022 after working across eight African countries, including Uganda, Egypt, Tunisia, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, and Morocco. Desabre never played professionally; he moved into management at 30 and built his name on the African circuit.
His football is built on defensive structure and fast vertical transitions, typically in a compact 3-5-2. Belgium-born Mario Stroeykens and France-born Warren Bondo both declared for DR Congo but missed the final cut, as did former Manchester United youth defender Willy Kambwala. Desabre backed the players who earned qualification: stay compact, strike on the counter.
Group K at a Glance
DR Congo share Group K with Portugal, Colombia, and debut nation Uzbekistan.
| Team | FIFA Ranking | WC Appearances (excl. 2026) | Best Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal | 5 | 8 | Third place (1966) |
| Colombia | 13 | 6 | Quarterfinals (2014) |
| DR Congo | 46 | 1 | Group stage (1974) |
| Uzbekistan | 50 | 0 | Debut tournament |
FIFA rankings: from the June 2026 FIFA Men’s World Ranking. World Cup appearances exclude 2026.
Portugal sit fifth and look clear favourites to top the group under Roberto Martínez. Colombia reached the 2014 quarterfinals and carry technical quality throughout. Uzbekistan are debutants and the group outsiders. None of these opponents has ever met DR Congo at a World Cup, so every match in Houston, Zapopan, and Atlanta is new ground for the Leopards.
FAQ About DR Congo World Cup Squad 2026
Did DR Congo qualify for the 2026 World Cup?
Yes. DR Congo qualified for their first World Cup since 1974, when they played as Zaire. They beat Nigeria 4-3 on penalties to win the CAF play-off, then edged Jamaica through Axel Tuanzebe’s 100th-minute winner in the inter-confederation play-off. FIFA later rejected eligibility complaints from Nigeria and Cameroon, confirming the Leopards’ place.
Who is DR Congo’s captain and star player for 2026?
Chancel Mbemba captains the side and holds the national record with 107 caps. Newcastle United forward Yoane Wissa is the most dangerous attacker, while veteran striker Cédric Bakambu leads the squad on 21 international goals.
What group is DR Congo in at the 2026 World Cup?
DR Congo are in Group K alongside Portugal, Colombia, and debutants Uzbekistan. They play Portugal in Houston on June 17, Colombia in Zapopan on June 23, and Uzbekistan in Atlanta on June 27.
Which players switched international allegiance to play for DR Congo?
Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Axel Tuanzebe both represented England youth teams before switching to DR Congo, and Gaël Kakuta came through France’s youth ranks before declaring for the Leopards. Those choices gave Desabre players with strong European pedigree.
DR Congo’s World Cup 2026 Hopes
The DR Congo World Cup Squad 2026 is built on diaspora talent — most key names grew up in Belgium or France and sharpened their game in the Premier League, Ligue 1, and LaLiga. Desabre fused that spread into one unit that saw off Cameroon, Nigeria, and Jamaica in a row, and that toughness travels.
Group K is hard but not closed off. DR Congo could reach the Round of 32 with one win and a draw, and the Uzbekistan game is there to take. If Wissa fires and Bakambu chases that scoring record, the Leopards stand a real chance of making history in 2026.
