The Leopards punched their ticket to the global showpiece after Axel Tuanzebe scored an extra-time winner to down Jamaica 1-0 at Guadalajara Stadium, Guadalajara in Mexico during intercontinental play-offs to secure final African slot.
Tuanzebe will leave to remember his goal for many more years to come after it delivered the Leopards their World Cup qualification since 1974.
The Leopards were desperate to make a comeback to the global showpiece that will take place from June 11th to July 19th and will be jointly hosted by sixteen cities - 11 in the United States, three in Mexico, and two in Canada.
Qualification beginning of new era
The 34-year-old, who plays for La Liga club Real Betis, has said the qualification should be a beginning to end the pain and suffering experienced in the East of the country, which has been ravaged by war and conflict for too many years.
“Dear Congolese brothers and sisters, I am filled with gratitude and pride to announce we have qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with our national team. This dream I share with all of you,” Bakambu wrote on his social media pages.
“Together, let’s make Congo's voice heard on the world stage. However, I do not forget the pain and suffering experienced in the east of our country, ravaged by war and conflict for too many years.
“Every effort we provide on the field, every moment of sacrifice, is also for them. We carry their hopes with us, and every step towards the World Cup is a step towards hope for all the Congolese people.
“May this qualification not be the end of a simple sporting adventure, but the beginning of a new era.
“This is an opportunity for all of us to gather, invest, modernize our sporting infrastructures, accompany our youth and spread sport in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“The future begins today. May God bless our country.”
DR Congo have been drawn in Group K
DR Congo last appeared in the FIFA World Cup in 1974, playing as Zaire, where they were the first Sub-Saharan African team to qualify. They finished last in their group after losing all three matches.
Their opener was a 2-0 defeat against Scotland, followed by a 9-0 thrashing by Yugoslavia, before they rounded off their Group 2 matches with a 3-0 defeat against Brazil.
DR Congo have been drawn in Group K of the finals, which includes Colombia, Portugal and Uzbekistan. The tournament will be the first FIFA World Cup to be hosted by three nations, and the first to include 48 teams, an expansion from 32.
Africa will have a record 10 representatives at the tournament, marking a historic milestone for the continent. It will be the first time in history that Africa will send 10 teams to the World Cup, underlining the continent’s growing influence in global football.
Apart from DR Congo, other African teams set to participate include; Senegal, Morocco, Egypt, Ghana, Algeria, Tunisia, Cote d'Ivoire, Cape Verde, and South Africa.