DR Congo came from behind to defeat Uzbekistan 3-1 in their final FIFA World Cup 2026 Group K match at Atlanta Stadium, ending their campaign with an impressive comeback victory.
Eldor Shomurodov gave Uzbekistan an early lead before DR Congo dominated the second half. Yoane Wissa converted from the penalty spot to level the match, Fiston Mayele completed the turnaround, and Wissa added a stoppage-time second to seal the win.
Match Summary
DR Congo 3-1 Uzbekistan
Goals
- Eldor Shomurodov 10′
- Yoane Wissa (P) 68′
- Fiston Mayele 78′
- Yoane Wissa 90+1′
Despite the victory, DR Congo finished third in Group K and narrowly missed out on a place in the knockout stage.
Wissa Inspires Second-Half Comeback
Uzbekistan made the brighter start and stunned DR Congo after just 10 minutes when Eldor Shomurodov found the breakthrough.
The Leopards gradually took control of the contest, creating chance after chance but were frustrated until the 68th minute, when Yoane Wissa calmly converted a penalty to bring the scores level.
Momentum swung firmly in DR Congo’s favor, and ten minutes later Fiston Mayele completed the comeback with a composed finish to make it 2-1.
As Uzbekistan pushed forward in search of an equalizer, Wissa struck again in stoppage time, wrapping up a deserved 3-1 victory.
DR Congo Dominate the Statistics
The scoreline reflected DR Congo’s superiority throughout the match.
Match Stats
| Stat | DR Congo | Uzbekistan |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 58% | 42% |
| Shots | 19 | 3 |
| Shots on Target | 4 | 1 |
| Passes | 473 | 350 |
| Pass Accuracy | 86% | 76% |
| Corners | 2 | 4 |
DR Congo controlled possession, created significantly more chances, and limited Uzbekistan to just three attempts throughout the match.
Final Group K Standings
| Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| Colombia | 3 | 7 |
| Portugal | 3 | 5 |
| DR Congo | 3 | 4 |
| Uzbekistan | 3 | 0 |
Colombia and Portugal progress to the Round of 32, while DR Congo and Uzbekistan are eliminated.
Player of the Match
Yoane Wissa (DR Congo)
Wissa produced an outstanding display, scoring twice including the equalizing penalty and the stoppage-time goal that sealed victory. His leadership in attack kept DR Congo pushing until the comeback was complete.
What It Means
DR Congo bow out of the tournament with their heads held high after collecting their first World Cup victory of the campaign. Although four points were not enough to reach the knockout stage, the Leopards finished strongly with an entertaining comeback performance.
Uzbekistan end their first World Cup campaign without a point after three defeats, conceding 11 goals across their group-stage matches.
DR Congo vs Uzbekistan Preview: Pride and Survival on the Line in Group K Finale
DR Congo and Uzbekistan meet in their final FIFA World Cup 2026 Group K fixture with both sides desperate to end their campaigns on a positive note.
DR Congo have collected one point from their opening two matches and still hold an outside chance of progressing, while Uzbekistan are yet to register a point after suffering consecutive defeats, including a heavy 5-0 loss to Portugal.
Match Details
Fixture: DR Congo vs Uzbekistan
Competition: FIFA World Cup 2026 – Group K
Date: 27 June 2026
Venue: Houston Stadium, Houston
Group K Standings
| Team | Played | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Colombia | 2 | 6 |
| Portugal | 2 | 4 |
| DR Congo | 2 | 1 |
| Uzbekistan | 2 | 0 |
DR Congo need victory and favorable results elsewhere to have any chance of reaching the knockout stage, while Uzbekistan are aiming to avoid finishing the tournament without a point.
DR Congo Looking for a Strong Finish
DR Congo have shown flashes of quality despite collecting just one point from two matches.
They have scored once and conceded twice, remaining competitive against stronger opposition but lacking the consistency needed to turn performances into victories.
Yoane Wissa has scored DR Congo’s only goal of the tournament, while Arthur Masuaku has provided their lone assist.
Top scorers:
- Yoane Wissa – 1 goal
Top assists:
- Arthur Masuaku – 1
The Congolese side are expected to take the initiative against Uzbekistan, knowing only a win gives them any mathematical hope of progressing.
Uzbekistan Seeking Their First Points
Uzbekistan have endured a difficult World Cup campaign, losing both group matches while conceding eight goals.
Their only goal of the tournament came through Abbosbek Fayzullaev, who remains their main attacking threat heading into the final group fixture.
Top scorers:
- Abbosbek Fayzullaev – 1 goal
Fabio Cannavaro’s side will be eager to restore some pride after their heavy defeat to Portugal and finish the tournament with a positive performance.
Head-to-Head Form
Current tournament record:
DR Congo
- Goals scored: 1
- Goals conceded: 2
- Last two matches: Draw, Loss
Uzbekistan
- Goals scored: 1
- Goals conceded: 8
- Last two matches: Loss, Loss
Key Battle
DR Congo’s pace in attack will test a Uzbekistan defense that has struggled throughout the group stage, while Uzbekistan will hope Fayzullaev can inspire a much-improved attacking display.
The pressure will be on DR Congo to dictate possession and create chances from the opening whistle.
Prediction
DR Congo enter the match as clear favorites, with pre-match probabilities giving them a 58% chance of victory compared to Uzbekistan’s 18%, while the draw stands at 24%.
Although neither side has enjoyed the tournament they hoped for, DR Congo have looked more competitive overall and should have enough quality to secure all three points.
Prediction: DR Congo 2-0 Uzbekistan
