DRC’s World Cup Dream Edges Closer as Playoff Path Revealed
The Democratic Republic of Congo now have a clear route laid out as they chase a historic return to the FIFA World Cup. The Leopards, aiming for only their second appearance on football’s biggest stage and their first since competing as Zaire in 1974, will head into March’s inter-continental playoffs in Mexico with renewed confidence after being seeded in Path A.
The playoff lineup brings together six nations from across the globe: DR Congo (CAF), Iraq (AFC), Jamaica (CONCACAF), Suriname (CONCACAF), New Caledonia (Oceania), and Bolivia (CONMEBOL). With only two World Cup slots available, the stakes are enormous and the margins razor-thin.
Thanks to their status as the highest-ranked team in the tournament, DR Congo have been placed directly into the final of Path A, skipping the semifinal. They will await the winner of the clash between Jamaica and New Caledonia—two sides with contrasting pedigrees but equally driven by the lure of a World Cup ticket. The one-off final will determine who heads to the 2026 Mundial.
Path B mirrors the same structure. Iraq, the second seeded team, will wait in the final for the winner between Bolivia and Suriname, with that victor also booking a place at the World Cup.
For DR Congo, this is more than just another qualifying hurdle—it’s a chance to end a 52-year absence from the tournament. With momentum in their camp and a clear, manageable path in front of them, belief could swelling across Congolese football circles. One match now separates the Leopards from writing a new chapter in their history.
Mexico awaits—and so does destiny.