Opinions, analysis and commentary
DR Congo arrive at Estadio Akron on one point, knowing a draw against Colombia keeps them level with Portugal and alive in Group K. The tactical question nobody is asking loudly enough: what does Chancel Mbemba, one yellow card from a suspension that costs him the Uzbekistan finale, actually do when Luis Diaz runs in behind at pace? The defensive shape that frustrated Portugal for 90 minutes depends almost entirely on how DR Congo manages that answer on Tuesday.
Roberto Martinez’s side finished with 75% possession, 783 passes at 92% accuracy, and 102 final-third entries against DR Congo. None of it produced a second goal. DR Congo generated 8 attempts worth 0.82 expected goals to Portugal’s 7 and 0.64, with Yoane Wissa’s stoppage-time header the only one that mattered.
DR Congo won 58% of duels overall, 60% of ground duels in the second half, made 28 clearances, and out-tackled Portugal 19-11 with 5 interceptions to 2. Portugal’s 23 crosses yielded just 6 accurate deliveries. Joao Neves headed Portugal ahead in the 6th minute; Wissa, meeting Masuaku’s cross, equalized in first-half stoppage time for DR Congo’s first World Cup goal since 1974.
| Player | Yellow Cards | Suspension Risk | Defensive Role |
| Chancel Mbemba | 1 | High: 2nd card costs him the June 27 finale vs Uzbekistan | Back-three organizer, aerial duels, set pieces |
| Axel Tuanzebe | 0 | None | Central cover, last-line interceptions |
| Aaron Wan-Bissaka | 0 | None | Right wing-back, one-on-one containment |
| Arthur Masuaku | 0 | None | Left wing-back, set-piece delivery |
Mbemba has 107 caps, captains the side, and won 76% of his aerial duels in his 2025-26 club season at Lille. His “Minister of Defense” nickname isn’t a decoration. He anchors the back three alongside Tuanzebe and Steve Kapuadi, with Wan-Bissaka and Masuaku as wing-backs.
His yellow card came in the 32nd minute, catching Pedro Neto’s face with his arm in an aerial duel. A firm challenge rather than a reckless one, which matters. Under a 2026 rule change, yellow cards reset after the group stage. A second caution against Colombia only cost Mbemba the June 27 finale against Uzbekistan, the game that DR Congo is treating as their real decider.
Luis Diaz’s World Cup opener against Uzbekistan showed exactly what Mbemba faces. Across 89 minutes, Diaz covered 178.55 metres through 19 carries, gained 45.85 metres on progressive carries, hit the post, scored, and assisted in Colombia’s 3-1 win. His clipped pass sent Daniel Munoz through for the opener. His own goal came after a midfield turnover sent him sprinting beyond the last defender.
That sprint in behind the defensive line after a high turnover is how Mbemba picked up his yellow against Neto. Against Diaz’s pace, the same scenario doesn’t just threaten another card. It threatens a goal.
Desabre’s problem isn’t purely tactical. Mbemba’s aerial dominance and duel numbers make the back three aggressive rather than passive. Ease off against Diaz, and the shape becomes reactive. Compete fully, and the card risk rises with every aerial challenge.
Brazil’s Thiago Silva offers a relevant precedent. He picked up his second yellow of the 2014 tournament in a quarterfinal win over Colombia and missed the semifinal against Germany. Brazil chose to compete fully and paid the price. Desabre faces the same math: protecting a card now guarantees nothing, and neither does ignoring the risk.
Colombia leads Group K on 3 points. DR Congo and Portugal are level on 1. A draw in Guadalajara keeps DR Congo in the frame; a defeat turns the Uzbekistan match into a must-win, with Portugal’s result also mattering.
Mbemba moderating his game is probably correct on paper. The risk of losing him for the Uzbekistan finale is real, and Tuanzebe can provide central cover. But Desabre’s system isn’t built for half-measures. DR Congo vs Colombia World Cup 2026 Mbemba is ultimately a test of whether the captain can stay disciplined enough to stay on the pitch, because without him, the shape that held Portugal becomes considerably harder to replicate.
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How did DR Congo draw with Portugal at the WC 2026?
Joao Neves headed Portugal ahead in the 6th minute, and Yoane Wissa equalized with a header in first-half stoppage time to finish 1-1. Wissa met Masuaku’s cross for the goal.
Who scored DR Congo’s first-ever World Cup goal?
Yoane Wissa scored DR Congo’s first World Cup goal since 1974, heading in Masuaku’s cross in stoppage time against Portugal. It earned DR Congo a 1-1 draw in Houston.
Is Chancel Mbemba at risk of suspension at the 2026 WC?
Yes, Mbemba is on one yellow card, and a second before the group stage ends rules him out of the June 27 finale against Uzbekistan. Yellow cards reset after the group stage under 2026 rules, limiting his suspension to that one match.
Who is Colombia’s best player at the 2026 WC?
Luis Diaz scored and assisted in Colombia’s 3-1 win over Uzbekistan, earning Man of the Match with a Sofascore rating of 8.5. He covered 178.55 metres through 19 carries and gained 45.85 metres on progressive carries.
What are DR Congo’s chances of qualifying from Group K?
DR Congo sits on 1 point alongside Portugal and 3 behind Colombia, needing results from both remaining matches. A draw against Colombia on June 23 keeps them level with Portugal on the final matchday.
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