DR Congo close out Group K knowing a win should be enough to reach the knockout stages as one of the best third-placed sides, even if they stay third.
Uzbekistan must win to cling on, but a battered goal difference means even three points may not save them. Here’s a 9/1 Betway bet builder backing the Leopards to get the job done, plus team news and predicted line-ups.
DR Congo vs Uzbekistan kick-off time, date, TV channel and venue
Date: Jattvibeday, June 28
Kick-off: 12:30am BST
Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Stage: Group K
TV channel: BBC Two & iPlayer
DR Congo vs Uzbekistan bet builder tips
Here’s the bet builder, priced up at 9/1 with Betway, three legs that back a controlled, low-scoring DR Congo win.
DR Congo to win
Under 2.5 goals
Yoane Wissa anytime goalscorer
➡️ Price: 9/1 at Betway (odds correct at time of publishing)
ON THE BALL
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DR Congo to win
DR Congo have it all to play for and will need three points to progress. The African side have performed well against Colombia and Portugal and should find this a more straightforward assignment. With a spine packed with Premier League experience and the motivation of a must-win game, they carry too much quality for an Uzbekistan side that has already shipped seven goals and looks short of answers.
Under 2.5 goals
Six of DR Congo’s last seven matches have seen two or fewer goals scored, while Uzbekistan have failed to score in three of their last five. The Leopards have built their tournament on defensive discipline, conceding just twice in two games, and against an Uzbekistan attack that has managed only a couple of goals all tournament, a tight, low-scoring win looks the likeliest route to three points.
Yoane Wissa anytime goalscorer
Wissa got back among the goals against Portugal after a difficult spell. He now has three goals in his last seven starts for DR Congo and should get far more opportunities in this encounter. As the Leopards’ only scorer at the finals so far, with the pace and movement to trouble a fragile back line, he is the natural focal point if Desabre’s side push for the win they need.
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DR Congo vs Uzbekistan match preview
DR Congo arrive at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium with their fate still in their own hands, just about. A battling 1-1 draw with Portugal, in which Yoane Wissa struck, was followed by a narrow 1-0 defeat to Colombia, leaving Sebastien Desabre’s side third on a single point. Win here and they climb to four, which should be enough to sneak through as one of the eight best third-placed teams. The defence has been dependable, conceding only twice, but a solitary goal in two games underlines where the work needs doing.
Uzbekistan, by contrast, are heading home. Beaten by Colombia and then thrashed 5-0 by Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal, Fabio Cannavaro’s World Cup debutants sit bottom on no points with a goal difference of minus seven. Even a win, given that deficit, would almost certainly not be enough. Captain Eldor Shomurodov is a proven scorer at club level but has yet to open his account at the finals, and the wider team has struggled badly for goals throughout.
The motivation gap is the story here. DR Congo have everything to play for and the better squad, with Wissa and Cedric Bakambu leading the line and a Premier League core through the spine. Desabre may finally release the handbrake from the back-five he used against Portugal and Colombia, and if he does, the Leopards have the tools to record a first World Cup win since 1974, when they competed as Zaire. Expect them to control the game and edge it without the floodgates opening.
Key stats for DR Congo vs Uzbekistan
Six of DR Congo’s last seven matches have seen two or fewer goals scored
Uzbekistan have failed to score in three of their last five games
DR Congo have conceded just twice at the finals but scored only once
Uzbekistan are winless and carry one of the worst goal differences at the tournament (-7)
This is the first competitive meeting between DR Congo and Uzbekistan
DR Congo vs Uzbekistan betting odds
Here are the latest odds provided by Betway.
DR Congo vs Uzbekistan predicted line-ups
DR Congo (5-3-2): Mpasi; Wan-Bissaka, Mbemba, Tuanzebe, Kapuadi, Masuaku; Mukau, Moutoussamy, Kayembe; Bakambu, Wissa
Uzbekistan (3-4-2-1): Yusupov; Khusanov, Abdullaev, Ashurmatov; Karimov, Shukurov, Khamrobekov, Nasrullaev; Fayzullaev, Urunov; Shomurodov
DR Congo vs Uzbekistan team news
DR Congo: Sebastien Desabre has no fresh injury or suspension concerns and a fully fit squad to choose from. The main question is shape, with the manager weighing up whether to switch from the back five used against Portugal and Colombia to a back four in search of the win they need. Yoane Wissa and Cedric Bakambu, the squad’s most prolific scorer, are set to lead the line, with a Premier League-experienced spine behind them.
Uzbekistan: Fabio Cannavaro has a clean bill of health following Rustam Ashurmatov’s return from a knock. Captain and talisman Eldor Shomurodov leads the attack still chasing his first World Cup goal, with Abbosbek Fayzullaev, the nation’s only scorer at the finals, the chief creative threat from out wide.
Verdict
DR Congo have the quality and the incentive to finally turn their solid displays into a result, and against a beaten Uzbekistan side a controlled, low-scoring win looks the likeliest outcome. Wissa is fancied to add to his tally as the Leopards force the issue. 9/1 at Betway.
Read more of our 2026 World Cup betting coverage
About the author
James Anderson
James Anderson is a Betting & Gaming Writer at The Jattvibe. He is an expert in sports betting and online casinos, and joined the company in November 2020 to work closely with leading bookmakers, casinos, and online gaming companies to curate content in all areas of iGaming and sports betting. He previously worked as a Digital Sports Reporter and Head of Live Blogs/Events at the Daily Express and Daily Star, covering football, cricket, snooker, F1 and horse racing.
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