Colombia 1-0 DR Congo: World Cup 2026 – live

Colombia are through to the knockouts. have top spot in Group K in their own hands after a 1-0 victory over DR Congo. Jonathan Wilson was at the Estadio Guadalajara and explains how Los Cafeteros finally found a way past keeper Lionel Mpasi.

double quotation mark As anybody who’s ever encountered Mexican traffic jams will know. there are times when it feels you’ll never get through the impasse. Colombia must have felt the same about the DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi. who made an outrageous string of saves that looked like they might earn his side an unlikely point. The Le Havre keeper was finally beaten –. only by a deflection that gave Colombia their second successive win a secured their passage to the last 32.

It was Daniel Muñoz who got the goal. the Crystal Palace right-back’s second in as many games, as he cut in from the right with half the DRC side seemingly distracted by a penalty appeal at the edge of the box.

The few hours’ pause before the third round of group stage matches kick off is also an ideal time to work out who you think will reach the final –. how they might get there. Do your thing with Bracketology … as I bid you farewell with thanks for following along.

Colombia right-back Daniel Muñoz is an unlikely presence among the leaders on the 2026 World Cup golden boot standings after scoring in back-to-back matches. But it will still be a surprise if at least one of the top few players at the moment don’t pull away as the tournament heads into the last lap of the group stage.

Colombia fans are just getting the party started in Guadalajara and no doubt much closer to home. Much like the winning supporters. the Mexican city never sleeps, as South Korea star Son Heung-min learned during a recent outing.

double quotation mark The tacos that Son Heung-min ate were reportedly of the Al Pastor and Arrachera variety. The former Tottenham forward was mobbed after taking an Uber from South Korea’s training camp. perhaps the most-talked about base at this World Cup tournament, to downtown Guadalajara. The crowds were another signal. if any were needed, of the forward’s global popularity, though the online advice was that he should have gone to a better restaurant.

Colombia had their chances. peppered the goals from long range before – and after – Daniel Muñoz broke the deadlock. Their 20 shots included nine on target,. don’t include the three other times Los Cafeteros had the ball in the net, in a promising performance that perhaps only lacked a cutting edge. DR Congo had their backs to the wall for much of the contest,. relied on an outstanding display for their keeper, as they found it hard to find a way through the midfield to buildup play or simply launch counterattacks. A belated rally came much too late. Colombia move into the knockouts while only needing a draw against Portugal to lock in top spot in Group K. DR Congo need a first World Cup win in their history when they face Uzbekistan to boost their hopes of progressing to the last 32.

Colombia hang on, move to top spot in Group K. qualify for the knockouts with a tense win over DR Congo. Daniel Muñoz scores the decisive goal in the 76th minutes after DR Congo keeper Lionel Mpasi had kept his side in the game.

90+5 min DR Congo unable to make anything out of the free kick as Colombia earn a goal kick.

90+4 min Jefferson Lerma picks up a late booking with more concern for Nathanaël Mbuku breaking clear through the midfield. DR Congo have 10 players forward with keeper Mpasi to pump it long across halfway.

90+2 min DR Congo take a much-delayed corner and the ball skids into Colombia feet. Nathanaël Mbuku takes it again. his set pieces have added much to the DR Congo attack since the midfielder has come on. The header is directed toward almost in slow motion as Vargas dives to collect the ball on a bounce.

90 min DR Congo now doing all the attacking as they find width in the forward half. space to build up with the ball. Colombia fail to properly clear a free kick from Nathanaël Mbuku. the substitute eventually ends up with the ball back at his feet for a cracking strike from distance. Colombia keeper Vargas is forced into a diving save that might have just outdone all of Mpasi’s many interventions. At least six more minutes of fun to come …

88 min DR Congo earn a rare throw-in in their final third and Aaron Wan-Bissaka sends it into the mixer. The Colombia defence clears with some smart positioning and a series of headers.

86 min Mpasi pulls out another diving save off a shot from distance to keep DR Congo in the game.

85 min Nathanaël Mbuku is also on for DR Congo with Samuel Moutoussamy done for the day. Edo Kayembe departing at the hydration break.

84 min DR Congo resorting to long balls out of defence. Charles Pickel is among a string of DR Congo substitutes. makes his presence felt with a foul in the middle of the pitch.

82 min The Estadio Guadalajara is filled with song as Colombia keep pressing for a second. Jhon Córdoba wins the ball on the byline. sends the DR Congo defence into a panic, but it is his turn to edge offside.

80 min Luis Díaz slams the ball into the top right corner. again the celebrations are shut down just as they begin. Díaz drifted offside momentarily before collecting the pass, to waste what would have been one for the highlight reels as he swung around on to his right boot. lashed the ball into the net.

78 min Luis Díaz wins the aerial battle in a one-on-one against Chancel Mbemba. sends the DR Congo captain crashing to the turf. The Colombia attacker chips the keeper to put the ball into the next. extend his side’s lead – only for the referee to blow for a foul in the buildup. There wasn’t much in that!

Juan Quintero sets up the opportunity with a through-ball from the edge of the area. Jhon Córdoba collapses to the turf in hope of a penalty but that just opens up space for Daniel Muñoz to run in to. lash the ball into the bottom corner. A deflection on the way through was probably the only way Colombia were going to beat DR Congo keeper Lionel Mpasi.

Daniel Muñoz gets the breakthrough as the dam wall finally breaks in front of the DR Congo goal.

73 min The DR Congo attack have had limited opportunity to show their talents. now create a chance with some lovely one-touch passing around the edge of the area. Three chances in a matter of seconds including a shot from Wissa. the Colombia defence sets up well to clear the danger.

71 min The players are back in position and ready to begin the last stanza in at the Estadio Guadalajara.

That ends a quieter period for both sides with Colombia having two shots since half-time – with one on target –. DR Congo only adding one of target to the two that they had in the first half. Let’s hope the hydration flips the game just as it did in the first half.

68 min DR Congo slow the momentum with two unnecessary fouls in as many minutes from Edo Kayembe. Samuel Moutoussamy. A draw would not be the worst result for DR Congo. at least on paper with Uzbekistan to come in their remaining game. That’s drink, folks …

65 min Luis Díaz whips in a cross from the left that floats into a dangerous area. The DR Congo keeper is forced to leap high. barely get a finger to the ball to knock it out for a corner.

63 min Colombia earn a free kick as in their attacking half after a foul from Samuel Moutoussamy. quickly take it before DR Congo are ready. But it was a little too quick for even their own players who are caught offside.

61 min Luis Díaz searches for a gap down the left side. with little opening up picks out Juan Quintero at the top of the area. The Colombia veteran dinks the ball into Muñoz’s path as he finds space on the right but overhits his first touch of the game. the opportunity passes with a goal kick.

59 min Colombia call on experienced playmaker Juan Quintero in place of captain James Rodríguez. as well as Jhon Córdoba for Luis Suárez. DR Congo look to liven up their attack with Simon Banza coming on for Cédric Bakambu.

58 min Jhon Lucumí shuts down a DR Congo attack with a clever foul. The Colombia defender picks up the first yellow card of the game as both sides swing the changes.

56 min Colombia rocket the ball into centre-forward Suárez’s feet. A quick lay off looks for Arias. with a little too much behind it the door opens for DR Congo to clear.

54 min DR Congo break forward and Wissa brings the ball under control. The lay off to Axel Tuanzebe charging through the middle opens up a clear shot from outside the penalty area. But the defender leans back on his shot and it sails over the bar.

52 min Luis Suárez presses the DR Congo defence but releases the pressure with an unnecessary foul.

50 min Colombia shift the ball from side to side top earn a corner. DR Congo clear but the ball is quickly back in the area where Díaz has it on a string. A left-footed strike finds a way through DR Congo legs only for Mpasi to stick a boot out just in time. Jhon Arias puts the follow up wide of the near post and the DR Congo screams at his defenders.

48 min Colombia are allowed as much time as they like on the ball without finding a way into DR Congo’s defensive line.

46 min DR Congo begin the second half.

DR Congo make their way out with Aaron Wan-Bissaka leading the way. One change with Ngal’ayel Mukau making way for emerging midfielder Noah Sadiki.

Colombia are first back on to the pitch at the Estadio Guadalajara as they prepare to chase a breakthrough against a resolute DR Congo defence.

With Colombia. DR Congo unable to break the deadlock in the first half, Portugal remain in top spot in Group K at the break with a goal difference of +5 compared to Los Cafeteros’ +2. The top two are both on four points at this stage. while DR Congo are currently third on two points with a game against Uzbekistan still to come.

See all the 2026 World Cup tables with this the last game in the second lap of the group stage.

Colombia have spent plenty of time working the ball around the final third. have had relatively few touches in the opposition penalty area with 16 to DR Congo’s two. Most of their 14 shots were taken from long range. still good enough to force Lionel Mpasi to save six attempts that were on target. Both of DR Congo’s two shots for the half were wide of the mark.

It has a half of two halves – before hydration break,. after hydration break – as Colombia peppered the goals but were unable to find a way past DR Congo keeper Lionel Mpasi. But the momentum was taken out of the contest after the halt in play as DR Congo set up deeper. worked harder to close down Colombia’s many long-range shots.

45+3 min Colombia ping the ball around the top of the penalty area searching for a sight on goal. Jhon Arias finally unleashes but the shot is blocked.

45+2 min DR Congo are stuck in their own half again with half-time now coming into view.

45 min Masuaku drops another sublime corner into the DR Congo attack. But a quick goal kick from Colombia releases Luis Díaz for a one-on-one opportunity in the penalty area. Díaz takes a couple of touches to get the ball under control before spinning on to his left foot. the shot is blocked. Five minutes of added time to come.

43 min DR Congo pull out perhaps their best moment since the opening minutes as the clock ticks down towards half-time. An early cross has Cédric Bakambu leaping high –. not quite high enough – to glance the ball past Colombia keeper Vargas.

41 min Mpasi comes out to clear the ball. has to scamper back to his goalline as DR Congo again lose the ball in midfield. A little more urgency from Suárez might have rattled the DR Congo keeper before their defence closed down the danger.

39 min A late challenge from Kayembe no Rodríguez hands the Colombia veteran a free kick in the final third. Davinson Sánchez gets a head to the ball but there isn’t enough behind it to trouble Mpasi.

37 min A pinpoint corner from Masuaku sends the ball into a dangerous area on the edge of the six-yard box. The Colombia defence scoop the ball away. that was a missed opportunity for DR Congo to at least test the keeper.

35 min DR Congo lock the ball forward with a moment of chaos. earns a throw-in in a dangerous area. The Colombia defence can only concede a corner for the first time in the game.

33 min Colombia poke and prod in their search for a way through DR Congo’s two banks of defence. The left side, where Díaz tends to drift, looks the mostly likely avenue closer to goal.

31 min Colombia have lost all their eye-catching fluidity with both sides now breaking down before they can reach the final third. Exhibit P why the hydration breaks need to be put in the bin for future tournaments (we can only live in hope).

29 min Colombia have kept the door firmly shut in midfield really since the opening minute. But they almost prise it wide open again with a loose pass back to Camilo Vargas. Yoane Wissa pounces to pressure the Colombia keeper who clears a split second before the danger arrives.

27 min The man of the moment. or at least the first quarter of the game, Lionel Mpasi gets us back under way … as Richard writes in to rail against what he quite reasonably calls a “momentum break”.

“Not a drop being drunk during the hydration break. Clearly ignoring the rules. Yellow card them all.”

24 min DR Congo sit deep but Díaz can’t resist taking a shot from outside the area. The rebound falls back at the Colombia attacker’s feet. a fresh approach, with a chip over the defensive line, amounts to little. Time to hydrate …

22 min Arthur Masuaku leaps into a tough challenge on Daniel Muñoz. knocks the ball out for the a throw-in. The DR Congo defender takes time to get to his feet with his side happy to slow the game down after withstanding 20 minutes of intense pressure.

20 min Another shot on target for Colombia! Mpasi leans to his left to punch away the attempt from distance. This time it is Colombia midfielder Gustavo Puerta trying his luck,. he will have to do better than that to find a way through with the DR Congo keeper standing firm so far.