General · 28 June 2026
DR Congo reach World Cup knockouts for first time
They've made it to the knockout stages for the first time ever, a huge turnaround after their 1974 World Cup debut. Coach Sebastien Desabre transformed the team in four years, leading them to fourth place at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. Their defensive solidity has brought 29 clean sheets in 57 games, but they rarely play top-20 ranked teams.
Reported by BBC · How we write briefs