Colombia secure World Cup 2026 knockout berth with Group K victory over DR Congo
The South American side moves to the top of Group K with six points, guaranteeing progression to the Round of 32 ahead of their final fixture against Portugal.
Colombia has secured their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 with a 1-0 victory over DR Congo in Group K. The result, achieved on Tuesday, moves Colombia to the top of the group standings with six points from two matches, guaranteeing progression to the knockout stage ahead of their final game against Portugal.
Daniel Munoz scored the decisive goal in the 76th minute, firing the ball from the right side of the penalty area to beat DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi. The strike ended a match in which Colombia had dominated possession but struggled to break through a resilient defence. Mpasi had produced an inspired performance, making multiple key saves throughout the first half, including denying James Rodriguez in the 11th minute and Luis Diaz in the 18th minute.
Colombia registered 15 shots by halftime, with six on target, as they sought to capitalise on their opening 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan. Rodriguez, making his 10th World Cup appearance to equal the national record held by Freddy Rincon and Carlos Valderrama, forced action from the DR Congo keeper early on. Despite controlling the tempo, Colombia saw a second-half effort from Diaz ruled out for offside after the Colombian forward appeared to have doubled the advantage.
For DR Congo, who are making their first World Cup appearance since 1974, the loss leaves them on one point. The squad, which arrived in the United States after completing a mandatory 21-day quarantine due to an Ebola outbreak, had drawn 1-1 with Portugal in their opening match. They must now defeat Uzbekistan in their final group game to keep their qualification hopes alive.
The victory for Colombia comes as Portugal defeated Uzbekistan 5-0 earlier on Tuesday, a result that contributed to Colombia’s top-of-the-group standing. In parallel Group L action, Croatia defeated Panama 1-0, while England and Ghana drew 0-0. France also secured a 3-0 win over Iraq in a match disrupted by severe weather conditions.
