DR Congo meet Uzbekistan in the final Group K fixture of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on 27 June at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. DR Congo sit third on one point after a 1-1 draw against Portugal and a narrow loss to Colombia, a win here would almost certainly put them through as one of the best third placed sides and deliver their first World Cup victory since 1974. Uzbekistan are already eliminated after conceding 12 goals in heavy defeats to Colombia and Portugal and with nothing left to play for, Cannavaro may use the occasion to give fringe players some tournament minutes. Desabre and Cannavaro have no prior record against each other in senior international football, so neither side has mid tournament footage of the other's tactical adjustments to draw on.
DR Congo head into this unbeaten in their last four when you include qualifiers and playoff matches, though both World Cup performances have been tight. They came through a nervy playoff win over Jamaica on penalties in March before holding Portugal to a draw and then losing narrowly to Colombia. Uzbekistan, by contrast, have lost four in a row since a 3-1 friendly defeat to Gabon in March, dropping games to Canada and the Netherlands before the heavy tournament defeats to Colombia and Portugal, the latter a 5-0 thrashing.
Neither squad has significant injury or suspension concerns going into this. DR Congo are expected to line up in a flexible 5-3-2 or 4-3-3 with Mpasi in goal, Wan-Bissaka, Mbemba, Tuanzebe and Masuaku across the back and Wissa and Bakambu leading the attack, with Mukau or Moutoussamy alongside Kayembe in midfield. Uzbekistan look likely to go with their familiar 3-4-3 or 5-4-1, Nematov or Yusupov in goal, Khusanov and Ashurmatov as the spine of a back three and Shomurodov up front with Fayzullayev and Urunov in support.
Desabre has built a side that stays compact, transitions quickly through the full backs and wing backs and trusts its attackers to punish space in behind. Wan-Bissaka and Masuaku will push Uzbekistan's wing backs deep while Wissa looks to get in behind the central defenders. Cannavaro's 3-4-3 gives Shukurov and Khamrobekov defined roles, one sitting to protect the back three while the other drives forward into space but the structure has come apart whenever Uzbekistan conceded an early goal in this tournament and DR Congo will target that vulnerability directly. These two nations have never met at senior level, so beyond that structural read there is no historical pattern to fall back on. The duel that shapes the match is Shomurodov against Mbemba and Tuanzebe: if Shomurodov wins flick-ons against Mbemba, Uzbekistan's best route to goal opens up but DR Congo's wide players will also need to break Uzbekistan's midfield line to reach Wissa in behind.
Desabre has made dead ball delivery a clear priority, with DR Congo ranking among the more dangerous set piece sides in their qualifying campaign. Uzbekistan have been exposed from those situations in both tournament matches and if DR Congo go ahead, Uzbekistan will have to commit men forward, with the spaces in behind suiting Wissa's running perfectly.
DR Congo should win this 2-1. Wissa and Bakambu have shown more movement and finishing quality than Shomurodov has managed across two matches in this tournament and Mbemba and Tuanzebe have held their defensive shape under pressure in a way Uzbekistan's back three has not. Shomurodov has been isolated throughout, with no support runners arriving to complement his hold up play and Cannavaro's structure, while disciplined, has not stopped them conceding once things have gone against them.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
