World Cup 2026: Who Could DR Congo Face in the Intercontinental Playoff?

The Democratic Republic of Congo has advanced to the intercontinental playoffs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

The Leopards secured their spot after a dramatic 4-3 penalty shootout victory over Nigeria. The decisive match, which served as the final of the African playoff tournament, saw DR Congo overcome the Super Eagles at Prince Hassan Stadium in Rabat.

“The match was far from easy, but the most important thing is that we came out on top. Our main goal was to defeat Nigeria, and achieving that is just the beginning. The real challenge lies ahead, and we are ready to face it head-on,” DR Congo coach said in the post-match press conference.

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With their ticket booked, the team, led by French coach Sébastien Desabre, now turns its attention to the intercontinental playoff draw.

The event is scheduled to take place on Thursday, November 20, at 1:00 p.m. at FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland.

The playoffs will feature six nations from different confederations competing for the final World Cup berths. So far, three teams have confirmed their participation: DR Congo (Africa), Bolivia (South America), and New Caledonia (Oceania).

The remaining three spots will be decided on November 18, 2025. In Asia, the winner of the second-leg match between the United Arab Emirates and Iraq will advance; their first leg ended in a 1-1 draw.

From the CONCACAF region, the two best second-placed teams from their respective qualifying groups will also join the playoff lineup following the final matchday on Tuesday.

The Leopards have navigated a thrilling and challenging 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign, culminating in a dramatic playoff victory that keeps their World Cup dream alive.

In the initial CAF Group B stage, DR Congo finished as runners-up to continental heavyweights Senegal. Despite a strong showing with 22 points from 10 matches (7 wins, 1 draw, 2 losses), they were pipped to the automatic qualification spot by the Senegalese.

Key performances included solid home wins against Mauritania and Togo, and a crucial 4-1 away victory over South Sudan.

This runner-up finish propelled them into the high-stakes CAF Playoff Tournament. After a tense 1-0 semi-final win against Cameroon, courtesy of captain Chancel Mbemba, the Leopards faced Nigeria in the final.

The match in Rabat was a nail-biting affair, ending 1-1 after extra time (Meschak Elia scoring for DRC). The subsequent penalty shootout became the definition of drama.

Coach Sébastien Desabre's masterstroke to bring on substitute goalkeeper Timothy Fayulu for the shootout paid dividends, with Fayulu saving two spot-kicks.

Mbemba then converted the decisive penalty for a 4-3 win, sending the Congolese through to the Inter-confederation Playoff in March.

This impressive run means DR Congo is now just two matches away from securing only their second-ever World Cup appearance and first since 1974.