The Democratic Republic of Congo stand one win away from returning to the World Cup more than five decades after their last appearance, when the nation competed as Zaire in 1974. Their opportunity comes in Tuesday’s inter‑confederation play-off in Guadalajara, where they face Jamaica, who edged New Caledonia to reach the decider.

DR Congo were seeded directly into the final after defeating Cameroon and Nigeria in November, showcasing the progress made under coach Sébastien Desabre. The Frenchman, who guided the team to the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations semifinals, believes his squad is fully committed to the project and ready for the challenge. The return of striker Yoane Wissa, who scored in a warm‑up win over Bermuda, further boosts their hopes. Victory would place DR Congo in Group K alongside Portugal, Colombia and Uzbekistan, and increase Africa’s representation to ten teams in the expanded 48‑nation tournament.