Colombia - DR Congo / 2026 FIFA World Cup

Follow the LIVE broadcast of the Colombia vs. DR Congo match in Group K of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on ŠPORT.sk! The match, also broadcast live on JOJ Šport, kicks off at 4:00 AM.

When the Congolese "Leopards" conceded a goal in the sixth minute of their opening World Cup match against Portugal, a precise header from João Neves, few would have bet on them securing any points. However, coach Sébastien Desabre's squad didn't falter. They meticulously stuck to their pre-match tactical plan and equalized before halftime with a well-placed finish from Yoan Wissa following a corner kick.

For the Democratic Republic of Congo, this was a breakthrough moment – they earned their first-ever point and scored their inaugural goal at a World Cup, definitively consigning their 1974 performance, where they exited the tournament with three losses and no goals, to history.

Now, however, another formidable obstacle stands before the African representative. In the second round of the group stage, they face Colombia, who, thanks to a 3-1 triumph over Uzbekistan, have established the best starting position. A full three points would significantly propel them towards securing the top spot in the group.

The South Americans gradually intensified their pressure in their opening encounter. Daniel Muñoz opened the scoring, perfectly set up by Luis Díaz. Although their opponent managed to counter and equalize, the agile Bayern Munich winger ultimately decided the crucial victory. Lorenzo's squad added the definitive insurance goal in stoppage time.

The central figure of the Colombian offense is undoubtedly the aforementioned Luis Díaz. In his World Cup debut, he confirmed his role as the absolute leader and engine of the team: he scored a goal, assisted another, created a significant opportunity, registered six touches in the opponent's penalty area, and opposing players could only stop him by committing five fouls.

Furthermore, Colombia can rely on an impressive long-term record – they have won six of their last seven group stage matches in major tournaments and have only been defeated twice in their last 14 games (8 wins, 4 draws, 2 losses). Even more impressively, in only one of their last 19 victories, they failed to score at least two goals.

The tactical puzzle of this historically first-ever encounter will be a significant challenge for both coaches. DR Congo controlled possession for only a fifth of the first half against Portugal, but after the break, they stifled the European favorites. They allowed their opponents only six shots, with only one, besides the goal-scoring situation, on target. Desabre's squad confirms they are incredibly tough to break down; they've lost only two of their last 14 matches (9 wins, 3 draws, 2 losses) and have conceded an average of just 0.3 goals per game in their last ten outings. Moreover, Cédric Bakambu had a sensational chance for a winning turnaround against the Portuguese in the dying moments.

Given that both coaches, Néstor Lorenzo and Sébastien Desabre, have full squads at their disposal, efficiency will be key. Colombia possesses superior individual quality and has scored at least twice in each of their last three appearances. Against a deep and organized defensive block, Luis Díaz, who has had an exceptionally successful club season, should once again be the main difference-maker.

However, a high-scoring shootout is not expected, considering the defensive nature of the Africans – in five of their last six matches, no more than two goals were scored.