Match 48 | Group K | Estadio Akron, Guadalajara | 24 June 2026 | 7:30 AM IST
Match Overview
Colombia and DR Congo arrive at Estadio Akron with their fates tightly linked in Group K. Colombia are sitting on three points from a confident 3-1 win over Uzbekistan, and three more here would effectively seal their place in the knockout round. DR Congo earned a hard-fought point in a 1-1 draw against Portugal — a result that announced them as a genuine threat in this group — but a win here is now essential if they’re to keep their FIFA World Cup 2026™ ambitions alive.
► Catch every kick live on ZEE 5 — India’s official home of the FIFA World Cup 2026™. Download the ZEE 5 app.
Colombia — Team Analysis
Néstor Lorenzo’s Colombia arrived on the back of a 28-match unbeaten run and a Copa America final in 2024 — only Argentina stopped them, in extra time. Against Uzbekistan, they were measured and professional. Daniel Muñoz opened the scoring in the 40th minute; Uzbekistan equalised; Díaz restored the lead; and substitute Jaminton Campaz killed it off with a 99th-minute header.
Luis Díaz is their primary striker. James Rodríguez, the 2014 Golden Boot winner with six goals in Brazil, captains the side at 34 and now plays at Minnesota United. That contrast between Díaz’s current trajectory and Rodríguez’s twilight is one of the interesting tensions in this squad.
Key player: Luis Díaz — Díaz is 29, at Bayern Munich, and in the form of his life — 26 goals and 19 assists last season, and the player DR Congo’s defensive structure will spend the whole game trying to contain.
DR Congo — Team Analysis
Sébastien Desabre’s DR Congo are back at the World Cup for the first time in 52 years. They last appeared as Zaire in 1974 and left without scoring in any of their three group games. Yoane Wissa equalised in first-half stoppage time against Portugal to give the Leopards their first-ever goal in this tournament.
Twenty of the 26 players were born outside the country, and the European quality it brings is clear. Chancel Mbemba, 100-plus caps, anchors the defence at Lille with authority. Aaron Wan-Bissaka covers the right flank. Cédric Bakambu brings 21 international goals and a veteran’s reading of the game. Desabre’s setup is compact and structured — they’ll defend, absorb pressure, and look to spring on the break.
Key player: Yoane Wissa — scorer of DR Congo’s first-ever World Cup goal and the counter-attacking threat Colombia’s defence must account for.
Head-to-Head
Colombia and DR Congo have never met in international football. Not once. This is the first competitive fixture between these nations, which means there’s no historical edge to lean on — no old result to reference, no psychological scar or inspiration to draw from. They arrive at this matchup defined entirely by what they’ve done in this tournament.
Tactical Preview
Lorenzo sets Colombia up in a 4-2-3-1 with the wide players given real attacking license. Díaz drifts inside from the left; Muñoz pushes high from right-back; Rodríguez drops deep to pick passes. The midfield is Colombia’s engine, and Desabre will need his back four disciplined and in shape for 90 minutes.
Desabre will defend deep and ask his players to release Wissa quickly in transition — that’s the mechanism. Wissa running off the last defender, Colombia’s line caught high. DR Congo will concede possession and wait for the moment to spring. Against Colombia’s midfield quality, they’ll need their defensive shape to hold for long stretches.
Key Story lines
Luis Díaz has been outstanding at club level — 26 goals and 19 assists for Bayern Munich last season. But the World Cup is where legacies are built. At 29 and in the form of his life, this tournament is his chance to become more than a very good European footballer.
DR Congo are back after 52 years. This 2026 side has already equalised against Portugal in first-half stoppage time and earned a point from a genuine European powerhouse. They’re here to do more than make up the numbers.
James Rodríguez won the Golden Boot with six goals at the 2014 World Cup and carried Colombia to the quarter-finals. At 34 and finishing his career in MLS, this is almost certainly his last. He doesn’t need to reach those heights — but Colombia will need at least one Rodríguez magic moment before the group stage is done.
Our Prediction
Colombia should have enough here. Díaz in his current form is a match-winner, the midfield is stacked, and DR Congo — for all their heart — will struggle to sustain defensive shape over 90 minutes against this level of pressure. Expect Colombia to grow into it after the break.
Colombia 2-0 DR Congo.
► Don’t miss a moment of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ action. Stream live and on-demand on ZEE 5 FIFA Subscription — wherever you are in India. Download the ZEE 5 app today.
Disclaimer: Subscription pack prices are subject to change from time to time. Please visit the subscription page for the most up-to-date pricing information.
