The Democratic Republic of the Congo has secured a historic return to the FIFA World Cup, ending a 52-year absence after defeating Jamaica 1–0 in an intercontinental playoff held at Estadio Akron.
The decisive moment came deep into extra time, when defender Axel Tuanzebe scored in the 100th minute. The goal followed a chaotic sequence from a corner delivered by Brian Cipenga, which deflected off Jamaican defender Joel Latibeaudiere before striking Tuanzebe and crossing the line.
Tuanzebe, who previously represented England at youth level but was born in Bunia—a region affected by ongoing unrest in eastern Congo—had described the match beforehand as the most important of his career. His match-winning contribution now cements his place in Congolese sporting history.
The tightly contested game reflected the high stakes, with clear chances limited throughout regular time. DR Congo thought they had taken the lead earlier through striker Cédric Bakambu, but two of his goals were ruled out for offside following VAR checks. Jamaica, meanwhile, struggled to create meaningful attacking opportunities despite pushing forward late in the match.
After Tuanzebe’s goal, there was a brief pause as officials reviewed a possible handball using the Video Assistant Referee system. The decision ultimately stood, confirming that the ball had not touched his arm.
The victory marks DR Congo’s first World Cup qualification since 1974, when the nation, then known as Zaire, made its only previous appearance at the tournament. Their return comes during a new era for the competition, as the upcoming edition expands to 48 teams, allowing more nations to qualify.
DR Congo will now compete in Group K, beginning their campaign against Portugal in Houston on June 17. They will also face Colombia and Uzbekistan in the group stage.
For Jamaica, the defeat means they miss out on what would have been just their second World Cup appearance, having previously reached the tournament at 1998 FIFA World Cup.
