This Group K clash carries enormous implications as both nations look to build on their contrasting but successful opening-day performances. Colombia asserted their dominance with a clinical 3–1 victory over World Cup debutants Uzbekistan in Mexico City, while DR Congo produced one of the biggest shocks of the tournament so far — heroically fighting back to claim a historic 1–1 draw against European heavyweights Portugal in Houston.
Victory on Wednesday would secure Colombia’s place in the knockout stage for a third consecutive World Cup appearance, having progressed from the group phase in both 2014 and 2018. DR Congo, meanwhile, are fresh off earning their first-ever point and scoring their first-ever goal at the World Cup — and they are hungry for more.
Colombia head coach Néstor Lorenzo must ensure his side maintains defensive focus, while relying on the creative brilliance of James Rodríguez and the terrifying transitional pace of Luis Díaz to unlock a highly resilient African backline. Standing across from them is a structurally sound and high-spirited DR Congo side guided by Sébastien Desabre — boasting a stubborn defensive blueprint and a lethal counter-attacking edge that successfully frustrated Cristiano Ronaldo’s side on Matchday 1.
Match Details
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Match | Colombia vs DR Congo |
| Competition | FIFA World Cup 2026 – Group K, Round 2 |
| Date | Tuesday, June 23, 2026 |
| Kick-off Time | 10:00 PM ET / 7:00 PM PT (USA) / 3:00 AM BST (UK, Wednesday) |
| Venue | Estadio Akron (Guadalajara Stadium), Guadalajara, Mexico |
FIFA World Cup 2026 Live Streaming Info
The match is available on ITV 1 in the UK, Fox Sports in the US, Zee5 in India, and SBS in Australia.
Live Streaming Info:
Will be live on Bein Sports 5
Live Score Info:
Colombia vs. DR Congo , FIFA World Cup 2026: All matches on FlashScore have live scores.
Kick-off Times by Region:
| Region | Time |
|---|---|
| USA (ET) | 10:00 PM, Tuesday June 23 |
| UK (BST) | 3:00 AM, Wednesday June 24 |
| India (IST) | 7:30 AM, Wednesday June 24 |
| Australia (AEST) | 12:00 PM, Wednesday June 24 |
Free Streaming Options:
- UK & Ireland: ITV1 / ITVX — completely free, all 104 matches
- Australia: SBS On Demand — full tournament, completely free
- US Options: FOX/FS1 via Fubo TV, YouTube TV, Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV Stream
- Spanish Language (US): Telemundo
- Live Scores: FlashScore and FIFA.com for real-time updates
Key Storylines & Tactical Battles
Luis Díaz — The Man in Form: Díaz shined against Uzbekistan with a goal and an assist. The winger also managed six touches in the opposition box, attempted four dribbles, won eight duels and drew five fouls — more than any other Colombia player on the night. This has the makings of a productive tournament for the Bayern Munich star.
James Rodríguez — The Golden Boot Legend Returns: James Rodríguez, who won the Golden Boot at the 2014 World Cup, teams with Luis Suárez and Luis Díaz to break through the Leopards’ defence. Rodríguez averaged 4.64 shots per 90 minutes for Minnesota United in the 2025–26 season, ranking in the 99th percentile.
Yoane Wissa — DR Congo’s History Maker: The goal scored by Yoane Wissa against Portugal was the first in DR Congo’s World Cup history. Should he score again in Guadalajara, he would become only the second African player to score in each of his first two World Cup appearances — after Egypt’s Mohamed Salah did so in 2018.
Wissa vs Colombia’s High Line: Colombia’s fluid system leaves gaps in their backline, and in Wissa and Bakambu, DR Congo have the personnel to hurt them. Wissa’s explosive pace and clinical finishing on the counter make him the most dangerous weapon the Leopards possess.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s Duel with Díaz: Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s stellar one-on-one defending will be put to the ultimate test by Díaz — one of the fastest and most direct wingers in this entire tournament. That individual battle could define the entire match.
The DR Congo Superfan Story: For the first time at the World Cup, DR Congo superfan Michel Mboladinga will be in the stands — a supporter who remains standing and completely statue-still throughout the entire match as a tribute to Patrice Lumumba, the first Prime Minister of Congo. His iconic pose mimics a famous statue of Lumumba and has become one of the most touching stories of the entire tournament.
Injury & Team News
Colombia should not have too many injury concerns heading into this game. Colombia does not have any unavailable players. For DR Congo, Théo Bongonda is ruled out through injury — though his absence does not significantly weaken DR Congo’s attacking options given the quality of Wissa and Bakambu up front.
Head-to-Head Record
Wednesday’s meeting marks the first-ever encounter between these two sides in men’s international football. Both sides go into this match without any shared history to draw upon — everything between Colombia and DR Congo gets written for the very first time at Estadio Akron.
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Meetings | 0 — First Ever Meeting |
| Colombia Wins | — |
| DR Congo Wins | — |
| Draws | — |
Additional Context: Colombia lost their first World Cup match against African opposition, falling 2–1 to Cameroon in 1990. But they have since won all three such games, each by a one-goal margin — 1–0 against Tunisia in 1990, 2–1 against Ivory Coast in 2014, and 1–0 against Senegal in 2018. DR Congo, meanwhile, are playing only their second-ever game against CONMEBOL opposition, having lost 2–1 to Chile in a pre-tournament friendly just days before the World Cup.
Team Analysis
Colombia
Colombia look to take control of Group K with a second win in as many matches. Los Cafeteros dominated possession, having the ball for 61.4% of the time against Uzbekistan in their 3–1 win. They now aim to dominate possession against a DR Congo squad that only had it for 25% of the time versus Portugal.
Colombia have won six of their last seven World Cup group-stage matches, scoring 17 goals and conceding just five across those seven games. They have also scored in 10 consecutive World Cup matches — tied with Argentina for the longest active streak in the tournament.
Strengths: Luis Díaz’s explosive pace and direct running, James Rodríguez’s world-class creativity and vision, clinical finishing in front of goal, dominant possession game, experienced squad with World Cup pedigree.
Weaknesses: The 3–1 scoreline against Uzbekistan flattered Colombia somewhat. Their fluid system leaves gaps in their backline, and against a team with DR Congo’s counter-attacking speed, those spaces could be ruthlessly exploited.
Key Players: Luis Díaz (Bayern Munich winger, goal + assist vs Uzbekistan), James Rodríguez (playmaker, 2014 Golden Boot winner), Luis Suárez (striker, focal point), Davinson Sánchez (defensive leader), Camilo Vargas (goalkeeper).
Tactical Approach: 4-2-3-1 possession-based system, Díaz and Arias providing width and pace, Rodríguez pulling the strings in the No. 10 role, Suárez as the physical reference point, high press to win the ball back quickly.
DR Congo
Sébastien Desabre’s men put on a masterclass in structural resilience against Portugal — fighting back heroically from an early setback to secure a historic 1–1 draw. The Leopards faced an immediate tactical crisis when João Neves fired the Portuguese ahead inside the opening six minutes. Rather than fracturing, DR Congo dug deep, utilising their compact defensive baseline and imposing physical presence to nullify one of Europe’s most dangerous attacks.
Despite holding Portugal to a draw, DR Congo rank as the second-most pressure-vulnerable team in the tournament so far, according to FIFA PMSR data. Six of DR Congo’s 8 shots against Portugal came from outside the penalty area — the highest proportion of any team on Matchday 1.
Strengths: Exceptional defensive organisation, compact 5-3-2 block, devastating on the counter-attack through Wissa and Bakambu, experienced Premier League quality in defence through Wan-Bissaka, Mbemba and Tuanzebe, incredible team spirit and fighting mentality.
Weaknesses: Very limited possession play (only 25% vs Portugal), heavily reliant on counter-attacks for goal threat, struggle to sustain attacks for long periods, most shots from outside the penalty box suggests finishing from close range remains an issue.
Key Players: Yoane Wissa (Newcastle United forward, DR Congo’s first-ever World Cup goalscorer), Cédric Bakambu (experienced striker partner), Aaron Wan-Bissaka (right wing-back, elite one-on-one defender), Chancel Mbemba (defensive leader), Samuel Moutoussamy (midfield anchor).
Tactical Approach: Desabre set up in a 5-3-2 against Portugal. Against Colombia, he might be better off switching to a four-man backline and bringing Noah Sadiki back into the starting lineup — absorbing pressure deep, staying compact, and exploding forward through Wissa and Bakambu on the counter.
Probable Starting Lineups
Colombia Probable XI (4-2-3-1): Camilo Vargas — Daniel Muñoz, Davinson Sánchez, Jhon Lucumí, Johan Mojica — Jefferson Lerma, Gustavo Puerta — Jhon Arias, James Rodríguez, Luis Díaz — Luis Suárez
DR Congo Probable XI (5-3-2): Lionel Mpasi-Nzau — Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Axel Tuanzebe, Chancel Mbemba, Steve Kapuadi, Arthur Masuaku — Ngal Mukau, Samuel Moutoussamy, Noah Sadiki — Cédric Bakambu, Yoane Wissa
Key Players to Watch
Luis Díaz (Colombia): This has the makings of a productive tournament for the Bayern Munich star, who recorded 29 goal contributions in 32 Bundesliga games last season. Díaz got off the mark immediately this summer with a goal and assist against Uzbekistan — and is Colombia’s most dangerous player by a clear distance.
James Rodríguez (Colombia): The 2014 World Cup Golden Boot winner will be looking to dominate with his passing range and vision. Rodríguez had 3 goals and 7 assists across 18 qualifying matches — a staggering return that shows just how central he remains to everything Colombia do.
Yoane Wissa (DR Congo): The Newcastle United forward scored DR Congo’s historic first-ever World Cup goal against Portugal. Should he score again in Guadalajara, he would become only the second African player to score in each of his first two World Cup appearances after Salah in 2018 — cementing his place in African football history.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (DR Congo): The former Manchester United and current Crystal Palace defender is tasked with one of the most difficult defensive assignments of the entire tournament — stopping Luis Díaz. His elite one-on-one defending and recovery pace make him DR Congo’s most important defensive asset.
Tactical & Statistical Breakdown
| Aspect | Colombia | DR Congo |
|---|---|---|
| FIFA Ranking | ~9th | ~47th |
| Opening Result | 3–1 vs Uzbekistan | 1–1 vs Portugal |
| Possession (MD1) | 61.4% | 25% |
| Shots (MD1) | 14+ | 8 |
| Playing Style | Possession, press, pace | Compact block, counter |
| Key Threat | Díaz + Rodríguez combo | Wissa + Bakambu on counter |
| Defensive Record | Conceded just 5 in last 7 WC games | Held Portugal to 7 shots |
| Win Probability | 58% | 17% |
The Opta supercomputer gives Colombia a 58% chance of winning across 25,000 pre-match simulations. DR Congo are afforded just a 17% chance of victory, with a draw making up the remaining 25% of scenarios.
Match Context & Group Situation
Following Matchday 1, Group K has an immediate and clear separation. Colombia hold the top spot with three points and a +2 goal difference. DR Congo and Portugal follow closely behind, deadlocked in second place with one point apiece and an identical 0 goal difference after grinding out their respective draws.
DR Congo managed a shock draw against Portugal in the opener, and they will look to employ a similar strategy here — absorb shots, stay compact, maybe steal a point, and with a result against Uzbekistan in Matchday 3, advance to the knockout round. Colombia, on the other hand, have their sights firmly set on winning the group and will fire forward in hopes of sealing all three points tonight.
In their only previous World Cup appearance — competing as Zaire in 1974 — DR Congo lost all three group matches by an aggregate score of 14–0. This edition, though, has already suggested it will be a very different story.
Predicted Score: Colombia 2 – DR Congo 0
Across Colombia’s last unbeaten run, Néstor Lorenzo’s side have been prolific — scoring 17 goals and conceding just five — suggesting DR Congo could be in for a difficult evening. The Leopards, however, turned out a brilliant performance against Portugal, demonstrating that they are fully capable of causing problems. Luis Díaz is expected to be the difference-maker, with James Rodríguez pulling the strings. DR Congo will make it hard, stay compact, and threaten on the counter — but Colombia’s quality, experience, and home-continent advantage in Mexico should ultimately prove too much.