DR Congo Chase Historic World Cup Return After 56 Years

DR Congo stand on the brink of history as they bid to secure their first FIFA World Cup appearance since 1970 when they face Jamaica in the inter-continental play-off final at the Estadio Akron on Tuesday, 31 March.

Head coach Sébastien Desabre is closing in on a long-term ambition set upon his appointment three and a half years ago, having steadily rebuilt the Leopards into continental contenders.

The Frenchman made an immediate impression following the 2022 tournament in Qatar, guiding the side to a commendable fourth-place finish at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Although their AFCON 2025 campaign ended in a round-of-16 exit, DR Congo have remained firmly focused on the ultimate prize — qualification for the global showpiece to be staged across Canada, Mexico and the United States.Their route to the play-offs has been hard-fought.

The Central Africans narrowly missed out on automatic qualification, finishing just two points behind Senegal in Group B after recording seven wins, one draw and two defeats.

They responded strongly in the next phase, edging regional rivals Cameroon 1-0 in the semi-finals before overcoming Nigeria 4-3 on penalties in a dramatic final.A 2-0 victory over Bermuda on 25 March provided timely preparation ahead of the decisive clash in Zapopan.Jamaica, however, poses a formidable challenge.

The Reggae Boyz came within touching distance of topping their qualifying group, finishing a single point behind Curaçao after losing just once in ten matches. Under Rudolph Speid, they secured their place in the final with a narrow 1-0 win over New Caledonia.

Speaking ahead of the encounter, Desabre underlined both the belief and unity within his squad.“We’re fully focused and determined. We are still on course to achieve the objective we set when I took charge,” he said.

“This will be our 13th match in the qualifying campaign, and the players have shown tremendous commitment throughout.“We are fortunate to have quality players competing at top clubs, but more importantly, the entire group has embraced the project. There is a strong collective spirit.

“We defend and attack as one — everyone contributes. That unity gives us the strength to make life difficult for any opponent.”With a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup at stake, DR Congo now have one final hurdle to clear as they aim to end a 56-year wait for a return to football’s biggest stage.