The DR Congo vs Uzbekistan clash at Atlanta Stadium on Saturday, June 27, 2026, was the final Group K fixture of the FIFA World Cup 2026—and it delivered one of the tournament’s great comeback stories.

DR Congo, playing in the World Cup for only the second time in their history after a 52-year absence, fell behind early but fought back to stun and claim a first-ever World Cup win, booking their place in the Round of 32 and joining Cape Verde as one of the tournament’s surprise qualifiers.

Final Score

Congo DR 3-1 Uzbekistan

Goals

Uzbekistan—Eldor Shomurodov, 10′

Congo DR — Yoane Wissa (penalty), 68′

Congo DR — Fiston Mayele, 78′

Congo DR — Yoane Wissa, 90+1′

Match Facts

Match Report

First Half: Shomurodov Stuns Congo DR

Uzbekistan, already eliminated and coming off a 5-0 defeat to Portugal, started the brighter of the two sides. The breakthrough came in the 10th minute when Eldor Shomurodov found the net with a close-range finish, giving the White Wolves a lead that held all the way to halftime.

For long spells of the first half, Congo DR struggled to find rhythm, and Uzbekistan looked the more composed and threatening team

Half-Time Score

Uzbekistan 1-0 Congo DR

Second Half: The Leopards Roar Back

Congo DR emerged after the break as a different team. The equalizer arrived in the 68th minute, when Khusanov brought down Wissa inside the box, and the referee pointed to the spot. Wissa stepped up to himself, sending goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov the wrong way to level the score.

Ten minutes later, Congo DR turned the game on its head. Meschack Elia’s shot was deflected into the path of Fiston Mayele, who reacted quickest to fire Congo DR ahead at the near post.

Uzbekistan pushed for a way back into the match, but with the game deep into stoppage time, Wissa put the result beyond doubt—curling a finish into the bottom corner to complete his brace and seal a 3-1 win.

Match Highlights

⭐ Shomurodov gave Uzbekistan a shock early lead. ⭐ Congo DR struggled to create chances in the first half. ⭐ Wissa converted a 68th-minute penalty to level the score. ⭐ Mayele’s near-post finish put Congo DR ahead in the 78th minute. ⭐ Wissa’s stoppage-time strike sealed a dramatic comeback win. ⭐ The DR Congo reached the World Cup knockout stage for the first time in their history.

Star Performers

Congo DR

• Yoane Wissa — Scored twice, including the equalizing penalty and the stoppage-time winner. Named Man of the Match.
• Fiston Mayele — Poacher’s instinct produced the decisive second goal.
• Meschack Elia — Created the second goal with a shot that fell perfectly for Mayele.

Uzbekistan

• Eldor Shomurodov opened the scoring with a sharp finish, his side’s first-ever lead in a World Cup match.
• Abduvohid Nematov — Kept Uzbekistan in the contest with several strong saves before the late goals.

What This Result Means

Congo DR

The win sends Congo DR into the Round of 32 for the first time in the nation’s history. Coming off an earlier 1-1 draw against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal, this comeback victory confirms DR Congo as one of the genuine surprise stories of the tournament. They moved on to face England in the Round of 32 on July 1.

Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan is eliminated, but their World Cup debut—including the early lead they built here and the battling display against Congo DR—earned plenty of respect. Head coach Fabio Cannavaro praised his side’s effort despite the disappointing finish to the campaign.

Final Verdict

The DR Congo vs. Uzbekistan match was a fitting send-off for Group K—an early shock, a resilient response, and a finish settled in the dying minutes. Congo DR’s comeback, capped by Yoane Wissa’s brace, secured a historic first knockout-stage appearance and one of the standout results of the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage.