Historic World Cup run brings hope to a fractured nation
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has not appeared at a World Cup finals tournament for 52 years, but the Leopards are making up for lost time in North America. After a draw with Portugal, a narrow defeat to Colombia, and a 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan inspired by Yoane Wissa's two goals, they have secured a place in the knockout phase. Now they face England in the last 32.
"We deserve to play England," Wissa said after the match-up was confirmed. "We have worked hard for this. You know, it's not easy in our country. There is war in eastern Congo. Every time we wear this shirt, we think about them."
Wissa's connection to home
The Newcastle striker's first thoughts after the Uzbekistan game were not about himself but about his homeland. In 2022, Wissa spent part of his holiday in the North Kivu region, an unusual decision for a player of his stature. Eastern Congo is often reduced to images of war and displacement, but Wissa used his platform to showcase the region's green hills, volcanic landscapes, lakes, and endemic wildlife. He reminded the world that Kivu is home to some of Africa's most breathtaking scenery.
Across Kivu, Wissa is admired not only for his Premier League goals but also for reminding people that their region is more than a battlefield. For the DRC, this World Cup has never been only about football.
A country of vast scale and deep divisions
The DRC spans 905,355 square miles, roughly 10 times the size of the UK, with a population of 116 million people. The provinces of North and South Kivu, including cities like Goma and Bukavu, are partially occupied by the M23 rebel movement, backed by Rwanda. They are separated from the capital Kinshasa by almost 2,500 kilometres of rainforest, rivers, and poor roads. Many people in the east have never visited the capital, and most in Kinshasa have never travelled east. Yet the Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa is still referred to as "home."
The DRC is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in Africa, with hundreds of ethnic communities and languages. Four national languages help create cohesion, but profound political and societal fractures remain. The biggest story here is not a sporting one—it is what the Leopards have done for their country.
Football as a unifying force
Eastern Congo has endured decades of war, and many people there have long felt abandoned by Kinshasa. Whenever violence intensifies, discussions about federalism and fragmentation resurface. Yet whenever the Leopards play, those divisions seem to pause. After the draw with Portugal, celebrations erupted in Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Goma, and Bukavu. The same happened after the victory over Uzbekistan, with even greater intensity.
Veron Mosengo Omba, president of the Congolese Football Federation, said: "Even in the occupied areas of eastern Congo, you see people coming out into the streets to dance. It's incredible … What these young players have given us is an unexpected gift." President Félix Tshisekedi echoed this: "Every victory, every flag raised, strengthens our pride, our national identity and the invisible foundations of our unity."
People have sung the national anthem together, waved Congolese flags, and danced late into the night. For a brief moment, football has achieved what politics has struggled to do for decades: unite a fractured nation.
A bridge between the diaspora and home
In today's DRC, very few institutions command trust across political, regional, and ethnic divides. The national football team might be the most efficient of them all. The squad itself reflects a bridge between the country and its diaspora: 21 of the 26 players selected grew up outside the DRC. Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Axel Tuanzebe, and Aaron Tshibola all played for England youth teams before representing the Leopards and will now face the Three Lions.
While the players arrived safely in the US, many supporters could not. Trump administration visa restrictions affecting several countries, including the DRC, prevented most fans from traveling. Accredited journalists also faced enormous difficulties obtaining visas. The team has been largely backed by the US diaspora—Congolese communities already living in North America. Houston, where the Leopards set up their base, became an extension of Kinshasa, with thousands coming to support the team.
A team made up largely of players living abroad was carried by supporters who also live outside the country. Perhaps no image captures contemporary Congo better.
A successful World Cup regardless of result
Whatever happens against Thomas Tuchel's England side, this World Cup has already been a success. Not just because the Leopards made it to the last 32, but because for a few weeks, football reminded millions of people that—despite war, division, politics, and history—they still belong to the same story: a shared DRC.
