Portugal Face DR Congo as Leopards Return to World Cup After 52-Year Absence

HOUSTON — DR Congo will make their long-awaited return to the FIFA World Cup on Wednesday when they take on Portugal at NRG Stadium, with head coach Sebastien Desabre urging his side to make the most of their first appearance at the tournament in more than five decades.

The Leopards, formerly known as Zaire, are featuring at the World Cup for the first time since 1974 and arrive in the United States after a disrupted build-up caused by an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The outbreak forced the squad into a mandatory 21-day quarantine and prompted a late change of plans, with their training camp moved from Kinshasa to Belgium ahead of the tournament.

Despite the challenges, Desabre said his players had adapted well and were ready for the task ahead.

“We adapted to the situation. We had to focus as we have had to adapt often. That is what we did,” Desabre said. “We worked well, we played two tough friendlies and here we are. Now it is another step for us.”

“It has been a while since the people have seen the team at the World Cup. We already had the honour of qualifying for the finals. Now it is up to us to put up a good showing in this tournament.”

DR Congo’s preparations included a goalless draw against Denmark on June 3 and a 2-1 defeat to Chile six days later. They secured their place at the finals after beating Jamaica 1-0 after extra time in a playoff on March 31.

Standing in their way are a Portugal side seeking to build on an impressive run of form under coach Roberto Martinez.

Portugal topped their qualifying group despite suffering a 2-0 defeat to the Republic of Ireland and remain unbeaten in 2026. They drew 0-0 with Mexico in March before recording a 2-0 victory over the United States and closed out their preparations with consecutive 2-1 wins over Chile and Nigeria.

The Portuguese are appearing at their seventh straight World Cup and will be aiming to improve on their best performance at the tournament, a fourth-place finish in Germany in 2006.

Midfielder Bruno Fernandes is expected to play a key role for Portugal after another standout season with Manchester United. The 31-year-old registered a record 21 assists and scored nine goals as United secured a top-three Premier League finish and qualification for the UEFA Champions League.

Fernandes has also carried that form onto the international stage, scoring a hat-trick against Armenia in November 2025 and contributing a goal and two assists in recent warm-up matches.

For DR Congo, much of the attention will be on striker Yoane Wissa, who was instrumental during qualification before a knee injury sidelined him for the final four months of 2025.

The 29-year-old struggled to regain momentum after joining Newcastle United from Brentford, scoring just once in 19 Premier League appearances. However, Wissa’s record of three goals and three assists during qualifying underlines his importance to the Leopards as they begin their World Cup campaign.

Wednesday’s match offers DR Congo an opportunity to mark their return to the global stage with a statement result, while Portugal will be looking to start their tournament with a victory and reinforce their status as contenders.

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A Lagos-based journalist with a passion for disseminating factual information and a deep appreciation for good music, good food, movies, and beautiful cars. He hopes to travel the world someday, documenting its beauty and diverse cultures through his storytelling.