Sabasports Match Preview
World Cup: DR Congo vs Uzbekistan
Kickoff Time: 2026-6-28 7:30 (HKT)
The Democratic Republic of the Congo lost 0-1 to Colombia in their last group match and walked away without a single point. They currently sit third in the group with one draw and one defeat. For the DR Congo, only a victory in their final group fixture will keep their knockout stage qualification hopes alive. Looking back at their previous game, the DR Congo displayed remarkable resilience and concentration at the back, with their goalkeeper pulling off several crucial saves. However, the side created precious few attacking chances and barely threatened the opposition goal with meaningful attempts, eventually conceding under sustained pressure from their rivals. Across their opening two matches, airtight defending and relentless physical duels have emerged as the DR Congo’s distinctive playing style. Tactically, the DR Congo can unleash a devastating counterattacking weapon if they fully utilise Cédric Bakambu as an attacking focal point up front while harnessing Yoane Wissa’s explosive pace. Link-up play and individual brilliance from the two forwards will form the core of their threat on the break.
Uzbekistan suffered a crushing 0-5 defeat against Portugal in their last group stage game, marking their second consecutive loss. They occupy the bottom of the group with zero points, yet a mathematical chance of qualification still remains. To stand any shot at claiming one of the best third-place knockout spots, Uzbekistan must beat the DR Congo in their final match while chasing as many goal differences as possible. Managed by Fabio Cannavaro, Uzbekistan operate a 3-4-2-1 formation. Out of possession, the entire team drops back rapidly, squeezing central space to force opponents wide before swarming them with numerical superiority in tight areas. Abdukodir Khusanov marshals the defensive line, judging when to step up and coordinating the movement of the whole back unit, while the two central midfielders form the primary shield in front of the defence. In possession, Uzbekistan bypass elaborate midfield build-up in favour of direct vertical attacking play. After winning the ball deep, they launch quick long balls towards Eldor Shomurodov, who holds up play and distributes passes to initiate secondary attacking phases down the flanks. Nevertheless, if Shomurodov is successfully marked out of the game, Uzbekistan lack alternative attacking solutions and must rely solely on set pieces and occasional moments of individual brilliance from their wide attackers.
A comparison of the two sides’ overall quality and recent form reveals the DR Congo are clearly the superior outfit. Furthermore, Uzbekistan’s attacking options dry up substantially once Shomurodov is neutralised. In contrast, the DR Congo boast far stronger attacking personnel and greater individual ability in the final third. Therefore, the DR Congo, holding a clear edge in raw strength, are tipped to secure all three points in this fixture.
DR Congo‘s Last 5 Games: LDLDD
26-06-24 Colombia 1-0 DR Congo
26-06-18 Portugal 1-1 DR Congo
26-06-10 DR Congo 1-2 Chile
26-06-04 Denmark 0-0 DR Congo
26-04-01 DR Congo 0-0 Jamaica (1-0 after extra time)
Uzbekistan ‘s Last 5 Games: LLLLD
26-06-24 Portugal 5-0 Uzbekistan
26-06-18 Uzbekistan 1-3 Colombia
26-06-09 Netherlands 2-1 Uzbekistan
26-06-02 Canada 2-0 Uzbekistan
26-03-30 Uzbekistan 0-0 Venezuela
Prediction: DR Congo to win