DR Congo v Uzbekistan — World Cup 2026 preview

DR Congo and Uzbekistan meet on 27 June 2026 at 23:30 GMT (18:30 EST) at Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) as both sides fight to keep their Round of 32 hopes alive. DR Congo arrive on one point after a 1–0 loss to Colombia, while Uzbekistan need a response after a heavy 5–0 defeat by Portugal, leaving little margin for error in this decisive Group K fixture.

Sébastien Desabre’s DR Congo have shown defensive discipline, lining up in a protective 5-3-2 on Matchday 2 with Lionel Mpasi in goal and a spine led by Chancel Mbemba and Axel Tuanzebe. The coach must sharpen the team’s finishing and quicken vertical ball progression to feed pacy forwards Yoane Wissa and Cédric Bakambu, who are expected to lead the attack again.

Fabio Cannavaro’s Uzbekistan have also named a fully available squad and will seek a swift defensive reset after their defeat. They favoured a wide 3-4-3 against Portugal, with Abduvohid Nematov in goal and a central trio of Rustam Ashurmatov, Asadbek Abdullaev and Abdukodir Khusanov.

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