DR Congo’s Leopards await the winner of Jamaica vs New Caledonia in the 2026 World Cup intercontinental playoff final in Mexico.
The Leopards of DR Congo will face either Jamaica or New Caledonia in the final of the intercontinental playoffs for a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
DR Congo secured their spot in the playoffs after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Nigeria’s Super Eagles on Sunday. The draw for the intercontinental playoffs was conducted on Thursday in Zurich, Switzerland, with Coach Sébastien Desabre’s side receiving a bye to the final due to their higher FIFA ranking.
The winner of the Jamaica vs New Caledonia semi-final will meet DR Congo in a winner-takes-all match scheduled for March 2026 in Mexico. There will be no return fixtures, making the game decisive for World Cup qualification.
A victory for DR Congo would see the team join the United States, Canada, and Mexico-hosted tournament as Africa’s 10th representative in the expanded 48-team competition.
The intercontinental playoff tournament features six teams competing for just two World Cup spots. The semi-final matchups include:
- New Caledonia vs Jamaica
- Bolivia vs Suriname
The final fixtures are:
- Winner of New Caledonia/Jamaica vs DR Congo
- Winner of Bolivia/Suriname vs Iraq
The mini-tournament promises high stakes, as teams compete for one of the final slots to join football’s most prestigious event.
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