Congo and Uzbekistan face brink as Group K tightens

Congo vs – DR Congo and Uzbekistan meet on Saturday, June 27, with both teams facing the possibility of an early end to their 2026 World Cup journeys. Congo is coming off a 1-1 draw with Portugal and a 1-0 loss to Colombia, while Uzbekistan has suffered defeats to Colomb

ATLANTA — The air inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium is different when two teams feel the calendar running out. DR Congo and Uzbekistan kickoff their 2026 World Cup match in Atlanta on Saturday, June 27, knowing the result could decide whether their tournament lives on.

Congo head coach Sébastien Desabre framed it as a technical test against an opponent that has already met major pressure—then survived its own group reality. His team has already drawn top-ranked Portugal 1-1 and lost 1-0 to Colombia. A win on Saturday would give Congo four points in Group K and push it into the round of 32.

For Uzbekistan, the stakes are sharper. The team has lost to Colombia 3-1 and to Portugal 5-0. It needs a win against Congo to have any chance of moving to the knockout rounds and salvaging its tournament dreams. Coach Fabio Cannavaro said he expects a matchup that will be more favorable for Uzbekistan.

The first half at the venue set up a tense second half. Uzbekistan controlled the match’s flow despite Congo having more possession, 56% for Congo to Uzbekistan’s 31%. The White Wolves led 1-0 at the break. Uzbekistan also forced Congo into bad positioning with defensive pressure.

Congo’s opportunity profile looked strange for a team under pressure: Les Léopards had four attempts on goal in the first half, but none were on target. Several were very high, while others drifted wide.

Discipline has become its own storyline. Sadiki and MBuku each picked up yellow cards in the first half for Uzbekistan to manage. while Uzbekistan had just one. Congo also has a second-yellow complication—its second yellow card arrived at the 49th minute. with Nathanaël MBuku the offender. In stoppage time, the match was headed for seven minutes of stoppage time before the first half ends.

A separate booking carried an additional threat for Uzbekistan’s future matches. Sherzod NASRULLAEV was booked for grabbing Nathanael MBUKU’s kit and causing him to fall in the 47th minute. placing Uzbekistan on a two-card yellow card list. Earlier, Abdukodir Khusanov picked up a yellow card against Congo in the 43rd minute. Khusanov already had a yellow card this tournament, meaning he will miss Uzbekistan’s next match if they advance.

The yellow cards weren’t the only moments that flipped momentum. Noah Sadiki picked up a yellow card in the 21st minute for an inadvertent kick to the face against Otabek Shukurov. Nathanaël Mbuku’s goal in the 16th minute nearly took the roof off Mercedes-Benz—Congo fans went wild—before a review removed the score. The goal was reviewed and taken off the board after Mbuku struck an Uzbekistan defender in the face en route to his goal.

Uzbekistan’s goal came earlier in the opening swing. Shomurodov flipped a ball off his left foot into the goal at the 10th minute, placing it into the corner of the net at exactly the right angle.

Congo answered back quickly with an early Wissa chance. Yoane Wissa sent a ball flying too high in the second minute.

The match began at a fast tempo. Uzbekistan won the coin flip and got the ball first. Dostonbek Khamdamov attempted to score just 21 seconds into the match, but was ruled offside—one of several early reminders that both sides were willing to attack immediately.

The tournament backdrop is part of why this match matters beyond just standings. Uzbekistan sits in the heart of Central Asia, north of Afghanistan and bordering Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. The source of the emotional stakes is reflected in the country’s rare geography: it is one of only two countries on Earth where you have to cross two borders to reach the ocean. About 37 million people live in Uzbekistan, with the capital in Tashkent.

On the Congo side, Desabre’s comments also spoke to the wider tournament moment. He said, “I believe that, yes, there should be more teams in the World Cup. We believe that everybody should be supporting African teams for them to go as far as possible.” With the expanded 48-team competition this year. African nations—Algeria. Cape Verde. Congo. Egypt. Ghana. Ivory Coast. Morocco. Senegal. South Africa and Tunisia—have made their imprint on the world’s largest stage.

Congo’s coach also offered a direct message about dealing with the pressure. He said, “The pressure during the World Cup is crazy. We know that. So I’ve always tried to do away with that pressure… erase it … I tried to convey to my players that, despite this pressure, we need to dig in. If we’re not ready for that. and we think everything is going to be easy because we’re at the World Cup. we’re going to have more difficulties.”.

Just before the game, Cannavaro said on Friday, “Congo is a more winnable match for us.” He added, “What I expect is a very different match because we have unburdened ourselves from matches against top sides … Over the last few days, I have allowed my players to move on from that (Portugal) game.”

Desabre returned to the urgency of knockout math with a blunt description of what comes next. “With these high-level games. high-stakes games. victory is necessary tomorrow. and the goal is to score one more game than the opponent. This is going to be a difficult game for us; we’re going to have to find the right tricks in order to take advantage.”.

Even for fans, the World Cup can hinge on doors that don’t open. Congo faces Colombia in World Cup action on Saturday, June 27, but its most famous fan, “Lumumba Vea” (real name Michel Nkuka Mboladinga), will not be in the stands. He was denied a visa to enter the United States.

The teams arrived at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta ahead of kickoff. The Uzbekistan national team arrived on site at 5:57 p.m. ET, and the Congolese national team arrived at 5:45 p.m. ET.

Match officials for Congo vs. Uzbekistan are Felix Zwayer, Robert Kempter, Christian Diss and Alexandro Hernandez. Video Assistant Referees (VAR) are Bastian Dankert, Dennis Johan Higler and Jarred Gillett.

As the clock moves, Group K is no longer a distant table—it’s a live equation. Congo is not eliminated. A win on Saturday would give it four points and push it into the round of 32, while Uzbekistan can still qualify but needs help and, first, a result against Congo.

Seth Vertelney predicted DR Congo 2-0 Uzbekistan. arguing Congo needs a win to advance and should be able to get three points against an Uzbek side that has struggled in its World Cup debut. Jon Arnold went with DR Congo 2-0 Uzbekistan. pointing to the staunch defense of DR Congo and the idea they will be too difficult for Uzbekistan to break down. Jesse Yomtov forecast DR Congo 2-1 Uzbekistan. saying Congo finally gets three points and knocks off debutant Uzbekistan to wrap group play. Victoria Hernandez also picked DR Congo 2-0 Uzbekistan. describing Uzbekistan as having been humbled by Portugal and Congo having momentum to notch three points.

Where to watch Congo vs. Uzbekistan: the game is airing on FS1, and it is available on Fubo or the Fox One App. Spanish-language broadcasts are available on Telemundo and Peacock. The matchup kicks off at 7:30 PM ET.

Congo World Cup roster lists goalkeepers Matthieu Epolo (Standard Liege), Timothy Fayulu (Noah) and Lionel Mpasi (Le Havre). Defenders: Dylan Batubinsika (Larisa). Rocky Bushiri (Hibernian). Gedeon Kalulu (Aris Limassol). Steve Kapuadi (Widzew Lodz). Joris Kayembe (Racing Genk). Arthur Masuaku (Racing Lens). Chancel Mbemba (Lille). Axel Tuanzebe (Burnley) and Aaron Wan-Bissaka (West Ham United). Midfielders: Theo Bongonda (Spartak Moscow). Brian Cipenga (Castellon). Meshack Elia (Alanyaspor). Gael Kakuta (Larisa). Edo Kayembe (Watford). Nathanael Mbuku (Montpellier). Samuel Moutoussamy (Atromitos). Ngal’ayel Mukau (Lille). Charles Pickel (Espanyol) and Noah Sadiki (Sunderland). Forwards: Cedric Bakambu (Real Betis), Simon Banza (Al Jazira), Fiston Mayele (Pyramids) and Yoane Wissa (Newcastle United).

Uzbekistan World Cup roster includes goalkeepers Utkir Yusupov (Navbahor), Abduvohid Nematov (Nasaf) and Botirali Ergashev (Neftchi). Defenders: Rustam Ashurmatov (Esteghlal). Farrukh Sayfiev (Neftchi). Khojiakbar Alijonov (Pakhtakor). Sherzod Nasrullaev (Nasaf). Umar Eshmurodov (Nasaf). Abdukodir Khusanov (Manchester City). Abdulla Abdullaev (Dibba). Bekhruz Karimov (Surkhon). Jakhongir Urozov (Dinamo Samarqand) and Avazbek Ulmasaliev (AGMK). Midfielders: Otabek Shukurov (Baniyas). Jaloliddin Masharipov (Esteghlal). Odiljon Hamrobekov (Tractor). Oston Urunov (Persepolis). Jamshid Iskanderov (Neftchi). Dostonbek Khamdamov (Pakhtakor). Abbosbek Fayzullaev (Istanbul Basaksehir). Akmal Mozgovoy (Pakhtakor). Azizjon Ganiev (Al Bataeh) and Sherzod Esanov (Bukhara). Forwards: Eldor Shomurodov (Istanbul Basaksehir, on loan from Roma), Igor Sergeev (Persepolis) and Azizbek Amonov (Bukhara).

The match is underway in Atlanta with Uzbekistan having won the coin flip and started with the ball first—and with Group K tightening around two teams that cannot afford to let Saturday slip away.

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