The Democratic Republic of Congo have ended one of the longest absences in football history, stepping onto a FIFA World Cup pitch for the first time in 52 years to play their Group K opener against Portugal at the Houston Stadium.

The central African nation had not reached the global finals since 1974, when they competed as Zaire under the authoritarian regime of Mobutu Sese Seko. That solitary campaign became infamous for a heavy 9-0 defeat to Yugoslavia and a misunderstood moment against Brazil when defender Mwepu Ilunga sprinted from a defensive wall to boot away an opponent's free-kick, an act later revealed to be a desperate protest amid state-directed safety threats to the players' families.

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The modern generation permanently banished those historical ghosts on 31 March 2026. The Leopards sealed their historic return to the tournament via the Intercontinental Play-off Tournament in Mexico. Facing Jamaica in a high-stakes final at the Guadalajara Stadium, former Manchester United and current Burnley defender Axel Tuanzebe turned home a dramatic winner in the 100th minute of extra time to secure a 1-0 victory, sparking nationwide celebrations.

The path to Texas has been fraught with severe logistical and domestic complications. A major Ebola outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain was declared in DR Congo in May 2026, forcing head coach Sébastien Desabre to cancel the team's domestic training camps in Kinshasa. To safeguard the squad and maintain a mandatory 21-day health bubble prior to entering the United States, the federation relocated their entire pre-tournament operations to Europe, playing warm-up fixtures in Belgium and Spain without any of the players being able to return to their homeland.

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Despite the disruption, Desabre has assembled a highly competitive squad heavily reliant on European-based diaspora talent. Official team sheets confirmed that DR Congo lined up in a robust 5-3-2 formation to counter the Portuguese attack, marshalled by Marseille captain Chancel Mbemba. The starting line-up also featured prominent Premier League talent, including West Ham United right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who committed to the Leopards after being overlooked by England, and Brentford’s dynamic forward Yoane Wissa.

Having previously failed to record a single point or score a solitary goal during their 1974 appearance, DR Congo's presence in North America represents a profound sporting reclamation for a country of 110 million people.