Congo DR Leave the World Cup With Their Heads High: The Leopards Showed the World What They Can Do

[Calm Paige]

The Democratic Republic of Congo flew home from Atlanta on Wednesday having played their first World Cup knockout match in 52 years and having genuinely frightened the fourth-ranked team in the world for most of it. That is not a consolation. That is a statement about where Congolese football is now compared to where it was and what the generation of players who have come through Ligue 1, the Premier League and Serie A represent for a footballing nation of 100 million people.

Cipenga's seventh-minute goal was the finest individual moment by a player making their World Cup debut at this tournament. His movement to create the chance was intelligent, his finish low and precise. He had already completed six dribbles against Uzbekistan. Against England he was one of the most dangerous players on the pitch for the first hour. Mpasi in goal was extraordinary throughout, making saves that seasoned World Cup goalkeepers would be proud of, and only Kane's finishing quality in the 75th and 86th minutes defeated him. Wissa hit the post with the score at 1-0. He should have had a second that would have made this a genuinely different story.

The players who represent Congo DR in this squad share a peculiarity: most of them play for clubs in European leagues. Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Axel Tuanzebe, Fiston Mayele, Yoane Wissa, Brian Cipenga, Arthur Masuaku, all of them have deep professional European experience. The team reflects what Congolese football can produce when that diaspora talent is properly channelled. Sebastien Desabre has been building this side methodically and the 2030 World Cup in Spain, Portugal and Morocco is the natural next destination for a squad that will be more experienced, more cohesive and more dangerous for having had this run.

England 2-1 Congo DR (Jul 1, 2026) Final Score - ESPNwww.espn.com