DR Congo vs Uzbekistan prediction, tips and odds | World Cup 2026

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.

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

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

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

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

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