Colombia and DR Congo meet in Match 48 of FIFA World Cup 2026 Group K at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara on 24 June, both coming off contrasting opening results and with no previous meetings to draw on. Colombia sit top of the group with three points after a 3-1 win over Uzbekistan while DR Congo earned one with a 1-1 draw against Portugal. The top two advance and Colombia enter as the stronger side, though DR Congo already showed against Portugal that they can absorb pressure and take a point.
Néstor Lorenzo and Sébastien Desabre have never met in a competitive fixture and their philosophies could hardly pull in more opposite directions: Lorenzo has built Colombia into a fluid attacking unit since taking charge in 2022, while Desabre has made DR Congo hard to beat through the same period, shaping a side that defends deep and looks to punish on the break. That contrast makes the tactical contest here genuinely worth watching.
Colombia arrive having won three of their last five, including the Uzbekistan opener and friendlies over Jordan and Costa Rica, with narrow losses to France and Croatia the only exceptions. DR Congo took points off Portugal and Denmark, beat Jamaica and Bermuda and only lost to Chile in that stretch, conceding rarely throughout. They have shown a knack for staying in matches long after less organised sides would have folded.
Both squads arrive at full strength with no reported injuries or suspensions. Colombia are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 with Camilo Vargas in goal, a back four of Daniel Muñoz, Davinson Sánchez, Jhon Lucumí and Johan Mojica, Jefferson Lerma and Richard Ríos in central midfield and James Rodríguez, Jhon Arias and Luis Díaz behind striker Jhon Córdoba. DR Congo should start in a 4-3-3 with Lionel Mpasi in goal, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Chancel Mbemba, Axel Tuanzebe and Arthur Masuaku at the back, Samuel Moutoussamy, Charles Pickel and Meschak Elia in midfield and Yoane Wissa alongside Cédric Bakambu up front.
Rodríguez brings precise passing and set piece delivery from deep, with Díaz running in behind on the left to give Colombia a consistent direct threat. DR Congo will look to absorb all of that and hit back through the pace of Wissa and Bakambu, a combination that forced Portugal into sharing the points. The battle in midfield will probably decide this: if Moutoussamy and Pickel can keep Rodríguez quiet and deny Colombia their rhythm, DR Congo will be in this much longer than the group standings suggest and if they cannot, Colombia's front line is mobile enough to find ways through. The left flank is worth watching too, with Díaz against Wan-Bissaka a genuine individual contest and Mbemba's experience alongside Tuanzebe tested repeatedly by Córdoba's runs in behind.
Rodríguez's delivery and the aerial presence of Sánchez and Córdoba give Colombia a genuine threat from set pieces, while Mbemba organises DR Congo defensively at dead balls and Wissa remains dangerous in transition. Guadalajara's altitude and warm conditions may help Colombia keep the ball and control tempo, though if DR Congo can force hurried play and sit deep, those counter attacks could punish Colombia if they push too high.
Colombia 2-1 DR Congo. Colombia have enough to break DR Congo down through Rodríguez and Díaz but DR Congo's discipline and the threat of Wissa and Bakambu on the break make this a tougher afternoon than the group standings suggest and those two will get at least one chance to punish Colombia on the counter.
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?.
