DR Congo - Uzbekistan / 2026 FIFA World Cup

Follow the LIVE broadcast of the DR Congo vs. Uzbekistan match in Group K of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on ŠPORT.sk! The match, which can also be watched live on JOJ play, kicks off at 1:30 AM.

The final round of Group K features a clash where both teams are fighting for survival, yet their realistic prospects differ dramatically. While the African side, DR Congo, largely controls its own destiny for advancement, Uzbekistan, with its dismal goal difference after two matches, clings to a purely utopian hope. In this encounter, the tactically superior African squad is generally expected to take the initiative, relentlessly pursuing their coveted spot in the knockout stage.

The DR Congo national team has one point after a valuable draw with Portugal (1:1) and a narrow loss to Colombia (0:1). The math is clear: any victory would push them to four points, which should comfortably be enough to secure a spot among the eight best third-placed teams once the group stages conclude.

Against a favored Colombia, the "Leopards" delivered a superb performance, maintaining a solid defensive block for a long time. However, after Daniel Muñoz's goal in the 76th minute, they couldn't find an equalizer. Coach Sébastien Desabre's squad has conceded only twice in the tournament, and both against elite global teams. Defense is their primary weapon, as evidenced by the fact that in 13 of DR Congo's last 15 matches, a maximum of two goals were scored.

However, the African representative absolutely needs to improve their attacking output, as they have scored more than one goal in only three instances over the same period. Fortunately, the coach has a full squad available without any absences and will rely primarily on proven individual talents like Cédric Bakambu and Yoane Wissa in attack.

Uzbekistan, on the other hand, completely faltered in their historic first appearance at the World Cup. Following an opening 3-1 loss to Colombia, they suffered a harsh and uncompromising 5-0 thrashing from Portugal. Fabio Cannavaro's squad conceded three goals in the first half, and after the break, goalkeeper Nematov unluckily deflected the ball into his own net, with Rafael Leão sealing the dreadful scoreline late on.

Although Cannavaro has a full squad at his disposal, his team is without a point, has a goal difference of 1:8, and hasn't secured a full three points since their March triumph over Gabon. They are currently on a dismal run of four consecutive losses, conceding at least two goals in each. While Eldor Shomurodov remains the team's biggest star, he has only managed two shots on goal in the tournament so far. Overall, Uzbekistan has only registered 15 shots, a stark contrast to the more attacking teams in the championship.

This match in Atlanta, USA, will be the first-ever encounter between these two nations. All predictions favor DR Congo, who were absolutely competitive in both previous matches against giants and appeared much more cohesive than the Asian debutants. Furthermore, most Congolese players regularly feature in elite European leagues, providing them with the necessary experience to handle such a crucial psychological moment.

However, the African team's weaker offensive efficiency suggests that this won't be a high-scoring affair, but rather a tactical and tighter victory with a lower number of goals.