Colombia 1-0 DR Congo: Five key takeaways from FIFA World Cup 2026 clash
(Courtesy : Getty Images)
Los Cafeteros secure a spot in the round of 32.
Colombia won 1-0 courtesy of a goal by Daniel Muñoz in the 76th minute. This is despite DR Congo’s outstanding goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi making eight saves and frustrating them for a large part of the match.
Colombia now have six points. They have qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup’s knockout stage.
DR Congo remain third with one point after two games. They may still qualify if they defeat Uzbekistan in their last game.
Five key takeaways from the FIFA World Cup game
5. Colombia become second South American team to qualify for round of 32
Colombia became the second South American country to mark their ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32. Los Cafeteros clinched their position after defeating DR Congo 1-0.
Daniel Muñoz scored the game-winning goal in the 76th minute, assisted by Juan Quintero. Colombia now have six points from two games. It ensures their passage even before their final group stage encounter against Portugal.
4. Luis Diaz first player in 12 years to be caught offside five times in World Cup
It wasn’t his day. Luis Diaz’s search for a second World Cup goal concluded in disappointment. Additionally, he set an unwanted record.
He became the first player in 12 years to be caught offside five times in a World Cup match. However, the Bayern Munich forward will look to move on from a disappointing individual performance and bounce back against Portugal.
3. Daniel Muñoz, Colombia hero at World Cup
Los Cafeteros advanced to the World Cup Round of 32 with one game to spare after defeating DR Congo 1-0 in Group K. Daniel Munoz scored the goal after the South Americans were frustrated for much of the evening.
Munoz also scored Colombia’s first World Cup 2026 goal against Uzbekistan, which they won 3-1. The attacker then scored another key goal here to secure their place in the round of 32.
2. Lionel Mpasi, goalkeeper, records five saves in the first 20 minutes in a World Cup match
Lionel Mpasi, DR Congo’s custodian, created history by making five saves in the first 20 minutes against Los Cafeteros in the FIFA World Cup 2026. He became the first custodian to achieve this feat in a World Cup match since Warren Barrett of Jamaica against Argentina in 1998.
Despite an outstanding performance in which he made eight saves in total, DR Congo lost 1-0 in their Group K encounter.
Also read: Who is Lionel Mpasi? DR Congo goalkeeper makes record-tying saves vs Colombia
1. Colombia secure a spot in the round of 32
Colombia advanced to the Round of 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a hard-fought 1-0 victory against DR Congo in Guadalajara, Mexico.
In the 76th minute, Daniel Muñoz scored off a feed from Juan Quintero, surpassing DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi’s tenacious play. Following the win, Colombia became the seventh nation to secure their spot in the World Cup round of 32.
Also read: List of all nations qualified for Round of 32 of FIFA World Cup 2026
Where do Colombia stand in the group?
They are first in Group K.
Where do DR Congo stand in the group?
They are third in the group.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.