DR Congo vs Uzbekistan: Congo Chase a Win to Stay in the World Cup

Predictions

Only one team in this game still has a dream to play for, and the experts think DR Congo will grab the win they so badly need.

Uzbekistan have lost both of their games and look worn down, so most see the Leopards taking the result, even if it stays tight to the end.

• Our prediction: DR Congo win 2-1.
• OneFootball: a DR Congo win, with the stronger, more experienced side coming out on top.
• Racing Post: DR Congo to take the win, with Uzbekistan short on confidence after two heavy losses.

What is on the line in this game?

Let us clear up the top first: Colombia and Portugal have already grabbed the 2 spots that go straight through.

So this last Group K game is not a fight for the top of the table.

This is all about the bottom two, and only one of them still has a reason to dream.

DR Congo sit 3rd on just 1 point, and their hope is tiny but it is still alive.

Here is the deal: they have to win, and even a win might not be enough on its own.

To reach the knockout bracket they also need to finish as one of the best third-placed teams across all the groups.

So if they draw or lose, they are going home.

Uzbekistan, sadly, are already out and cannot go any further no matter what happens.

Why are DR Congo the favorites?

DR Congo are the stronger side on paper, and the bookmakers agree, making them favorites at about -130, roughly a 57% chance to win.

A big reason for that is their forward Yoane Wissa, who plays for Newcastle and can scare any defense with his speed and finishing.

Then there is the experienced striker Cedric Bakambu, plus Gael Kakuta, the clever passer who can create a chance out of nothing.

But this game is about more than the players, because the Leopards are dealing with a 52-year wait.

That is how long it has been since DR Congo last played at a World Cup, and now they are back and refusing to let it slip away.

They opened with a brave 1-1 draw against Portugal, the kind of result that tells you they can stand toe to toe with the big teams.

Then came a painful 1-0 loss to Colombia, and that is the result that left them with no choice but to win this one.

You can feel the urgency, and it is exactly the kind of pressure that makes a team throw everything forward from the first whistle.

What is Uzbekistan's story?

For Uzbekistan, two losses mean they are going home, but what they have already done will be remembered for a long time.

This is their first ever World Cup, and for a country that had never made it before, just being here is the proudest moment in their football history.

Think about that for a second: millions of fans back home are watching their team on the biggest stage on earth for the very first time.

They will leave after the group stage, but they earned their place here all on their own, and nobody can take that away from them.

Their best hope of a goal is the captain and striker Eldor Shomurodov, who leads the attack and never stops running.

Just behind him is the young creative midfielder Abbosbek Fayzullaev, 22 years old, who keeps trying to make something happen near the goal.

Their tournament started with a 3-1 loss to Colombia, a game that was closer than the final score made it look.

Then came a heavy 5-0 loss to Portugal, a tough night that really knocked their confidence.

So they walk out for this last game wanting one thing: to play with pride and give their fans a performance to smile about.

Our call: DR Congo win 2-1

We are backing DR Congo to win 2-1, mostly because they have so much more to play for.

They know a win is the only thing that keeps their faint dream alive, so expect them to chase it with everything they have.

With Wissa and Bakambu up front, they should create enough space to cause Uzbekistan real problems and score a couple of goals.

But Uzbekistan will not just give up, and Shomurodov is the kind of striker who can grab a goal back at any moment.

So we see DR Congo winning this, just not in an easy or comfortable way.

What does it mean for Group K?

Both top spots are taken, but there is still one prize left to settle at the top of the group.

The other Group K game, Colombia vs Portugal, kicks off at the exact same time and decides who finishes 1st.

Finishing 1st really matters, because the group winner usually draws an easier opponent in the next round.

And down at the bottom, DR Congo are chasing a win that could quietly slip them into that same knockout bracket through the back door.

That is why even the bottom game in Group K has a real story worth watching.

Where and when can you watch?

The game is on Saturday June 27, 2026, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.

Kickoff is 19:30 (7:30 PM) Eastern time.

You can also find all the details on the match page.

Want to be there in person? Take a look at our World Cup tickets guide.