DR Congo World Cup Squad 2026: Full 26-Player Roster
The DR Congo World Cup Squad 2026 has made history. Sébastien Desabre’s 26 man roster, captained by Chancel Mbemba, brought the Leopards back to the World Cup for the first time since 1974 (when they played as Zaire) and then carried them into the knockout rounds for the very first time. A 3-1 comeback win over Uzbekistan on June 27 sent DR Congo into the Round of 32, where they meet England in Atlanta on July 1.
This is a diaspora built side. Yoane Wissa, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Noah Sadiki, and Axel Tuanzebe all played 2025/26 in the Premier League, while Cédric Bakambu arrived on 21 international goals. Ranked 46th by FIFA in June 2026, the Leopards finished third in Group K behind Colombia and Portugal, doing just enough to advance as one of the best third placed teams. Wissa was the standout, scoring DR Congo’s first ever World Cup goal and ending the group on three.
Here is the full DR Congo squad list, Group K results, key player breakdown, and Round of 32 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)
- Squad top scorer: Cédric Bakambu (21 international goals)
- Top scorer at the World Cup: Yoane Wissa (3 goals)
- Premier League players: 4 (Yoane Wissa, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Noah Sadiki, Axel Tuanzebe)
- Home based players: 0, with every player 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
Yoane Wissa, Newcastle United
The breakout star of DR Congo’s campaign. The 29 year old forward scored the Leopards’ first ever World Cup goal to draw with Portugal, then struck twice to beat Uzbekistan. Those three goals carried DR Congo into the Round of 32 and made him the squad’s leading scorer in the United States.
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.
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 give Desabre a proven finisher off the bench.
Fiston Mayele, Pyramids FC
The CAF Champions League winner scored the goal that turned the Uzbekistan game, putting DR Congo 2-1 ahead in the 78th minute. His pace and pressing give the Leopards a constant outlet on the counter.
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 future. 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 as DR Congo’s engine.
DR Congo World Cup 2026 Results and Schedule
DR Congo played all three Group K matches across the United States and Mexico, then earned a Round of 32 tie in Atlanta. Here is how the group stage finished.
| Date | Match | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 17, 2026 | DR Congo 1-1 Portugal | NRG Stadium, Houston | Draw |
| June 23, 2026 | Colombia 1-0 DR Congo | Estadio Akron, Zapopan | Loss |
| June 27, 2026 | DR Congo 3-1 Uzbekistan | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta | Win |
| July 1, 2026 | DR Congo vs England | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta | Round of 32 |
Wissa rescued a point against Portugal with DR Congo’s first ever World Cup goal in first half stoppage time. A single second half strike gave Colombia a 1-0 win in the second game, leaving the Leopards needing a result against Uzbekistan.
They delivered it in style: after Eldor Shomurodov put Uzbekistan ahead early, Wissa equalised from the penalty spot, Mayele struck on 78 minutes, and Wissa sealed a 3-1 win in stoppage time. DR Congo finished third on 4 points and went through as one of the best third placed teams.
Round of 32: DR Congo face England on Wednesday, July 1, 2026 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Kick off is 12:00 PM ET (5:00 PM WAT in Kinshasa). It is the first ever meeting between the two nations and DR Congo’s first World Cup knockout match.
Track every 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, with substitute goalkeeper Timothy Fayulu saving 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, Axel Tuanzebe’s late 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, usually 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, a plan that has now taken them past the group stage.
Group K Final Standings
DR Congo shared Group K with Portugal, Colombia, and debut nation Uzbekistan. Colombia topped the group and Portugal followed as runners up, while DR Congo advanced in third.
| Team | P | W | D | L | Pts | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colombia | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | Won group, into R32 |
| Portugal | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | Runners up, into R32 |
| DR Congo | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | Third, into R32 |
| Uzbekistan | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | Eliminated |
DR Congo earned 4 points from a draw and a win, enough to slip through among the eight best third placed teams. None of their group opponents had ever met the Leopards at a World Cup, and the campaign in Houston, Zapopan, and Atlanta delivered the country’s first knockout berth.
FAQ About the DR Congo World Cup Squad 2026
Did DR Congo reach the World Cup 2026 knockout stage?
Yes. DR Congo finished third in Group K with 4 points and advanced as one of the best third placed teams, reaching the World Cup knockout stage for the first time in their history. They face England in the Round of 32 in Atlanta on July 1, 2026.
How did DR Congo do in Group K?
DR Congo drew Portugal 1-1, lost 1-0 to Colombia, then beat Uzbekistan 3-1. Yoane Wissa scored three of their goals, including the country’s first ever World Cup goal, and Fiston Mayele added the decisive strike against Uzbekistan.
Who do DR Congo play in the Round of 32?
DR Congo play England on Wednesday, July 1, 2026 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, kicking off at 12:00 PM ET. It is the first ever meeting between the two nations and DR Congo’s first World Cup knockout match.
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 has been the standout, scoring three goals in the group stage to lead the Leopards into the knockout rounds.
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 has already made history by reaching the knockout rounds for the first time. Built on diaspora talent from the Premier League, Ligue 1, and LaLiga, Desabre’s side showed its resilience with the comeback win over Uzbekistan after a draw with Portugal and a narrow loss to Colombia.
Now comes the biggest test of all, England in the Round of 32 on July 1. The Three Lions start as heavy favourites, but if Wissa stays hot and Bakambu chases his scoring record, the Leopards have the pace and belief to cause an upset and extend their best ever World Cup run.
