DR Congo vs Uzbekistan
Key Details
2026 FIFA World Cup, Group K
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Sunday, June 28 – 00:30 BST
Our Prediction
DR Congo 2-0 Uzbekistan
Key Stat
Uzbekistan have failed to score in three of their last five matches
Top Tip
DR Congo to win to nil
DR Congo face Uzbekistan in their final Group K fixture at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with both sides still harbouring hopes of reaching the round of 32 when they meet at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta in the early hours of Sunday morning (00:30 BST).
The Leopards sit third in the group on one point after drawing 1-1 with Portugal and losing 1-0 to Colombia, while Uzbekistan prop up the table with zero points and a goal difference of minus seven following defeats to Colombia (1-3) and Portugal (0-5), and Sebastien Desabre’s side know that a victory would put them firmly in contention as one of the best third-placed teams across the tournament.
Preview: DR Congo vs Uzbekistan
DR Congo have already written one of the stories of this World Cup, returning to the global stage for the first time since 1974, when they competed as Zaire, and earning their first ever goal and point at the competition in a spirited 1-1 draw against Portugal in Houston on matchday one.
Yoane Wissa headed home from an Arthur Masuaku cross in first-half stoppage time in that match, a historic moment for Congolese football that illustrated the attacking quality Desabre has at his disposal.
The narrow 1-0 defeat to Colombia on matchday two, settled by a Daniel Munoz strike in the 76th minute, was further evidence that the Leopards are competitive at this level, even if they ultimately came away without reward.
A look at DR Congo’s recent form reveals a mixed bag, with one win, two draws and two losses from their last five outings, although both stalemates came against strong opposition in Denmark and Portugal.
Defensively, Desabre’s side have shown resilience, conceding just four goals across those five matches, and they have kept two clean sheets in the process, against Jamaica and Denmark.
DR Congo’s squad contains considerable Premier League and European experience, with Wissa at Newcastle United, Aaron Wan-Bissaka at West Ham United, Noah Sadiki at Sunderland and Axel Tuanzebe at Burnley all providing a spine of players accustomed to high-intensity football.
DR Congo vs Uzbekistan comparison
Last 5 games
Uzbekistan arrived at this World Cup as debutants, coached by 2006 World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro, but the step up in quality from Asian qualification to the global stage has been stark.
The White Wolves’ opening 3-1 defeat to Colombia at the Estadio Azteca included a bright spot in Abbosbek Fayzullaev’s equaliser, Uzbekistan’s first ever World Cup goal, but any momentum that generated was destroyed in Houston four days later when Portugal ran riot in a 5-0 demolition.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in that match, and goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov endured a particularly difficult evening, contributing an own goal to compound the humiliation.
Heading into their final group-stage encounter, head coach Cannavaro will know that any realistic chance of claiming full spoils hinges on tightening a defence that has conceded 12 goals in its last five matches, especially with his side having found the net just twice in that same period.
It is worth noting that, aside from securing victory over DR Congo, Uzbekistan would also need to overturn a minus-seven goal difference to stand a realistic chance of reaching the round of 32 as one of the best third-placed teams, a scenario that underlines the scale of their task for anyone looking at the best sites to bet on the World Cup.
Team news: DR Congo vs Uzbekistan
DR Congo
Outs and Doubts
No injuries reported
Full squad available for selection
Desabre has a fully fit squad to choose from for this decisive group-stage fixture, a significant advantage heading into a match that could define the Leopards’ tournament.
The back three of Chancel Mbemba, Tuanzebe and Steve Kapuadi is expected to remain intact, with the captain, who has 111 caps at the age of 31, marshalling the defence from the left centre-back position.
Masuaku and Wan-Bissaka should continue as wing-backs, with the Lens man having provided the assist for Wissa’s historic goal against Portugal, a contribution that underlined his importance in the final third.
Samuel Moutoussamy, Edo Kayembe and Sadiki look set to form the midfield three, with 35-year-old veteran Cedric Bakambu, the squad’s leading scorer with 21 international goals from 72 caps, partnering Wissa up front.
Uzbekistan
Outs and Doubts
No injuries reported
Full squad available for selection
Cannavaro also has no injury concerns, but the Italian must decide whether wholesale changes are needed after the 5-0 thrashing by Portugal.
The biggest selection question surrounds goalkeeper Nematov, who conceded five goals including an own goal in that defeat, although he is still expected to retain his place ahead of the more experienced Utkir Yusupov, given that the 25-year-old started both group matches.
Abdukodir Khusanov, the 22-year-old Manchester City centre-back, is Uzbekistan’s most high-profile defender and will anchor the back three alongside Rustam Ashurmatov and Abdulla Abdullaev.
Cannavaro is expected to hand 18-year-old Bekhruz Karimov another start at right wing-back, with the Surkhon Termiz teenager having been one of the more energetic performers across Uzbekistan’s two group fixtures, while veteran Khojiakbar Alijonov occupies the opposite flank.
Fayzullaev and Azizjon Ganiev are likely to continue in the attacking midfield positions behind captain Eldor Shomurodov, who has 44 goals in 94 caps for his country and remains Uzbekistan’s greatest goal threat.
DR Congo vs Uzbekistan injuries and predicted XIs
Predicted DR Congo XI (3-5-2): L Mpasi; S Kapuadi, A Tuanzebe, C Mbemba; A Wan-Bissaka, E Kayembe, S Moutoussamy, N Sadiki, A Masuaku; C Bakambu, Y Wissa
Predicted Uzbekistan XI (3-4-2-1): A Nematov; R Ashurmatov, A Khusanov, A Abdullaev; B Karimov, O Shukurov, A Mozgovoy, K Alijonov; A Fayzullaev, A Ganiev; E Shomurodov
Head-to-head: DR Congo vs Uzbekistan
Head to Head
No previous meetings between DR Congo and Uzbekistan
This will be the first competitive or friendly fixture between these two nations
These two nations have never met in any competition at any level, making this an entirely unprecedented fixture at the World Cup.
DR Congo’s World Cup history is limited to their 1974 appearance as Zaire, when they lost all three group-stage matches and conceded 14 goals, and the 52 years between those two tournament appearances underlines just how significant their presence in this competition is for Congolese football.
Uzbekistan, by contrast, are making their World Cup debut, having qualified through the expanded 48-team format that offered greater opportunity to Asian Football Confederation members, with Cannavaro appointed specifically to guide the team through this historic campaign.
Without any direct precedent to draw on, the form each side has shown against the two common opponents in Group K, Portugal and Colombia, provides the most useful reference point, and the disparity is considerable, as DR Congo took one point from those two fixtures while Uzbekistan took none and were outscored 8-1.
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Our DR Congo vs Uzbekistan prediction and tips
Our bet365 review provides a full breakdown of their football markets, while new customers looking to back the Leopards can check the latest bet365 sign up offer before the tournament moves into the knockout rounds.
Top Tip
DR Congo to win to nil
Odds: 3.00
Uzbekistan have failed to score in three of their last five matches, and their attack has been blunt at this World Cup, managing just one goal across two group games. DR Congo have kept two clean sheets from five recent outings and showed solid defensive organisation against both Portugal and Colombia.
Value Bet
Under 2.5 goals
Odds: 1.80
DR Congo have scored just three goals in their last five matches, while Uzbekistan have managed only two in the same period. Both sides have been more solid at the back against comparable opposition than they have been prolific going forward, and the Leopards will prioritise control over attacking abandon with qualification potentially in their hands.
Longshot
Wissa anytime scorer
Odds: 2.50
The Newcastle United forward has already scored DR Congo’s only World Cup goal, heading in against Portugal, and he plays centrally as one of two strikers in a 3-5-2 formation. Wissa has 10 goals in 40 caps and faces a defence that shipped five against Portugal, making him a credible scoring threat.
Free Choice
DR Congo -1 Asian Handicap
Odds: 2.75
The quality gap between these two squads has been evident throughout the group stage. DR Congo competed with both Portugal and Colombia, while Uzbekistan conceded eight goals across those same two fixtures. Desabre’s side have the stronger individual talent and greater tactical organisation to win by two or more.
Score Prediction
DR Congo 2-0 Uzbekistan
DR Congo have the quality, motivation and defensive solidity to see off a weary Uzbekistan side that have conceded 12 goals across their last five outings and failed to score in three of them.
- DR Congo took one point from matches against Portugal and Colombia, while Uzbekistan took none and were outscored 8-1 against the same opponents
- The Leopards have kept two clean sheets in their last five matches, showcasing the defensive stability that could shut out Uzbekistan’s limited attack
- Wissa and Bakambu offer enough firepower to break down a defence that conceded five to Portugal
- Victory would take DR Congo to four points, a tally that could be enough to progress as one of the best third-placed sides
