Team: DR Congo

DR Congo return to the World Cup with a squad drawing on a growing number of Congolese players competing in Europe's major leagues, many of whom hold dual nationality and have chosen to represent the country of their heritage. Les Leopards play with intensity and physical presence, backed by a nation of over 100 million people whose passion for the game is enormous. Their presence at 2026 is a significant moment for football across Central Africa, reflecting the growth of the game in one of the continent's largest and most football passionate countries. It is a moment that has been decades in the making.

Congo DR secured their second World Cup place by defeating Jamaica in the FIFA Playoff Tournament Path A final, with Axel Tuanzebe scoring a dramatic extra time winner. It is the Leopards' first appearance on the global stage since they competed as Zaire in 1974.