DR Congo vs Uzbekistan | Group K, Matchday 17 | Saturday, June 27, 2026
Kickoff: 7:30 PM ET | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, USA
Group K standings heading in: Colombia 6pts, Portugal 4pts, DR Congo 1pt, Uzbekistan 0pts
TV/Streaming (USA): Fox Sports, Telemundo
High Bet
What’s at Stake
With Colombia already through and Portugal closing in, this is a straight fight for survival in Group K. DR Congo sit third on one point after a creditable draw with Portugal and a narrow defeat to Colombia; they need a win to have any realistic chance of advancing as one of the best third-placed sides in the expanded 48-team format. Uzbekistan, on the other hand, have conceded eight goals in two games and sit bottom with no points, meaning a defeat here ends their debut World Cup campaign and a draw almost certainly does the same. Three points for either side keeps a slim knockout-round hope alive; anything less for Uzbekistan makes this a farewell match at their first-ever World Cup.
Verdict
DR Congo have shown genuine resilience against far stronger opposition than Uzbekistan, and their greater World Cup experience within this tournament cycle makes them the more coherent unit at a critical moment. DR Congo to win at -115 with BetOnline is the headline DR Congo vs Uzbekistan prediction, backed by a side that has held Portugal and pushed Colombia, facing a debut nation that has shipped eight goals in two matches.
DR Congo vs Uzbekistan Match Preview
This is a match that arrived with more pressure on it than either team would have wished. DR Congo return to the World Cup for the first time since their 1974 debut as Zaire, and manager Sebastien Desabre knows that ending this campaign with just one point from three games would represent a missed opportunity in a group that offered a realistic path. Their draw with Portugal on Matchday 1 showed tactical discipline and the kind of defensive structure that can frustrate; their defeat to Colombia was narrower than it sounds at 0-1. The squad has Premier League quality through Yoane Wissa of Newcastle United and experienced attackers in Cedric Bakambu and Gael Kakuta, and they carry a goal threat even when operating cautiously.
Uzbekistan, managed by Fabio Cannavaro in his first major tournament at the helm, arrive in Atlanta having conceded five to Portugal and three to Colombia. A 0-5 loss in Matchday 2 exposed real defensive vulnerabilities, and Cannavaro will need significant tactical adjustments if his side are to avoid a third defeat. Their captain Eldor Shomurodov, the team’s all-time leading scorer with 44 international goals in 92 caps, and the exciting Abbosbek Fayzullaev, who scored Uzbekistan’s only goal of the tournament so far, represent the primary outlet going forward. But with a goal difference of -7 already, the numbers tell a stark story about their defensive fragility at this level.
The game is won or lost in transition. DR Congo have the quality to press high and use wide areas through Wissa and Meschak Elia; Uzbekistan will look to hit quickly through Shomurodov and Fayzullaev. If DR Congo establish control early, the contest could become a long afternoon for a Uzbekistan side visibly short on confidence. The Atlanta crowd and the weight of the occasion will test Uzbekistan’s debut tournament character to its limits.
Team Form
DR Congo Recent Results
- Colombia (A): Lost 0-1 (FIFA World Cup, June 23)
- Portugal (A): Drew 1-1 (FIFA World Cup, June 17)
- Chile (N): Lost 1-2 (Friendly, June 9)
- Denmark (N): Drew 0-0 (Friendly, June 3)
- Jamaica (N): Won 1-0 (World Cup Qualifying, March 31)
DR Congo’s form is mixed but not without quality. The draw with Portugal remains the standout result: holding a side that went on to beat Uzbekistan 5-0 suggests real defensive organisation and the capacity to threaten on the counter. The Colombia defeat was tight and came against a side sitting top of Group K with six points. Their qualifying campaign was excellent, a record of 7 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss from nine games, scoring 14 and conceding just 5. Yoane Wissa scored DR Congo’s first-ever World Cup goal this tournament, and Bakambu has been their most productive recent scorer across the qualifying cycle.
Uzbekistan Recent Results
- Portugal (A): Lost 0-5 (FIFA World Cup, June 23)
- Colombia (H): Lost 1-3 (FIFA World Cup, June 17)
- Netherlands (N): Lost 1-2 (Friendly, June 8)
- Canada (A): Lost 0-2 (Friendly, June 1)
- Venezuela (H): Drew 0-0 (FIFA Series, March 30)
Uzbekistan’s last five results make for uncomfortable reading: four defeats and a goalless draw, with nine goals conceded across their two World Cup matches alone. Their AFC qualifying campaign was tighter, going unbeaten across four games with wins over Kyrgyzstan and Qatar, but the step up in class at the finals has been brutal. Fayzullaev, with four goals across recent competitive appearances, is their most consistent attacking threat. The side has conceded in every recent competitive fixture, and that pattern is the central concern heading into a match they need to win.
Team News
DR Congo have a settled squad with no reported suspension issues heading into Matchday 3. Chancel Mbemba, the captain with over 100 international caps, anchors the defense alongside the experienced Aaron Wan-Bissaka of West Ham United and Axel Tuanzebe of Burnley. The midfield engine room draws on Charles Pickel, Edo Kayembe, and Samuel Moutoussamy, while the attacking options are DR Congo’s biggest strength: Wissa from Newcastle United leads the line, supported by Bakambu of Real Betis and the pace of Elia and Mbuku from wide positions. The squad depth includes Nathanael Mbuku of Montpellier and Theo Bongonda, giving Desabre genuine variety in how he sets up the attack.
For Uzbekistan, the primary concern is confidence rather than personnel. Abdukodir Khusanov of Manchester City is the squad’s most high-profile name at club level and provides defensive leadership, but the back line has been consistently exposed. Farizullaev remains the creative axis alongside Oston Urunov and Jaloliddin Masharipov in midfield, while Shomurodov leads the attack. Igor Sergeev offers a second striking option with 25 goals from 83 caps. Cannavaro faces a selection dilemma: press for a win and risk being caught on the break by DR Congo’s pace, or shore up the defense and hope for a moment of individual quality. Neither option comes without significant risk given the current form.
DR Congo vs Uzbekistan Predicted Lineups
DR Congo (4-3-3): Mpasi; Wan-Bissaka, Mbemba (c), Tuanzebe, Masuaku; Pickel, Kayembe, Moutoussamy; Elia, Wissa, Bakambu
Predicted XI – squad to be confirmed.
Uzbekistan (4-2-3-1): Nematov; Ashurmatov, Khusanov, Alijonov, Sayfiev; Hamrobekov, Urunov; Fayzullaev, Masharipov, Shukurov; Shomurodov (c)
Predicted XI – squad to be confirmed.
Key Tactical Matchup
The duel that shapes this match is Abbosbek Fayzullaev against DR Congo’s defensive midfield block. Fayzullaev has been Uzbekistan’s most dangerous player at this tournament, scoring their only goal so far, and he operates in the pockets between the lines where he can turn and drive. DR Congo’s midfield three of Pickel, Edo Kayembe, and Moutoussamy will need to deny him that space, because when Uzbekistan have had time on the ball against high-level opponents, they have still found moments of quality. DR Congo’s qualifying record of just 5 goals conceded in 9 games suggests a defensively organised side, and if they can contain the Fayzullaev threat, their own attacking speed through Wissa and Elia should prove decisive on the counter.
Best Bets
Main Pick: DR Congo to Win @ -115 (BetOnline)
DR Congo have the superior form at this tournament, having drawn with Portugal and lost narrowly to Colombia, while Uzbekistan have shipped eight goals and have yet to show they can keep a clean sheet against competitive opposition. The -115 price on a DR Congo win is the standout DR Congo vs Uzbekistan pick from this market, representing genuine value for a side with more quality across the pitch and a greater competitive edge heading into a must-win situation. DR Congo’s qualifying record of 7 wins from 9 only reinforces the case that this is a team that knows how to close out games when it matters.
Goals Market: Over 2.5 Goals @ +102 (BetOnline)
Uzbekistan have conceded eight goals in two World Cup games, and they now face a side that has both the motivation and the attacking tools to exploit that fragility. DR Congo’s forward line of Wissa, Bakambu, and Elia carries genuine pace and cutting edge, and a side that has nothing to lose will likely push forward and leave spaces. Over 2.5 goals at +102 is the best available price on this line and offers real upside given the defensive records of both teams in this tournament. This is one of the stronger DR Congo vs Uzbekistan betting tips on the card.
Scorer Market: Yoane Wissa Anytime Scorer
Wissa scored DR Congo’s first-ever World Cup goal in the group stage and leads the line with Premier League-sharpened instincts that have been consistently tested against top defensive setups at Newcastle United. Against a Uzbekistan back line that has conceded eight times in two matches, the 29-year-old forward is well-positioned to add to his tournament tally. His combination play with Bakambu and the direct running of Elia creates multiple routes to goal, and Wissa’s movement inside the box makes him the most likely beneficiary.
Correct Score: DR Congo 2-0 @ best available price
DR Congo’s defensive record at this tournament and Uzbekistan’s inability to score against organised resistance make a clean sheet for the Africans plausible. They kept Portugal to a 1-1 draw and lost only 0-1 to Colombia, suggesting they are not a side that concedes cheaply. A 2-0 correct score aligns with the most probable game narrative: DR Congo controlling possession, finding the net through their forward quality, and limiting Uzbekistan to long-range efforts. That is the route to the knockout stages, and the shape of this performance is likely to reflect that clarity of purpose.
DR Congo vs Uzbekistan Odds Across Operators
Here is a full breakdown of the DR Congo vs Uzbekistan betting odds from the three approved operators, covering the match result market and the totals line at 2.5 goals.
| Outcome | BetOnline | Lucky Rebel | BetNow |
|---|---|---|---|
| DR Congo Win | -115 | -119 | -120 |
| Draw | +285 | +280 | +310 |
| Uzbekistan Win | +295 | +295 | +300 |
| Totals (2.5) | BetOnline | Lucky Rebel | BetNow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Over 2.5 | +102 | -115 | -115 |
| Under 2.5 | -132 | -101 | -101 |
BetOnline offers the best DR Congo vs Uzbekistan odds on both the home win (-115) and the Over 2.5 goals line (+102), making it the primary destination for both headline picks. The Draw is best-priced at BetNow (+310) for any bettors who see the score prediction pointing toward a tight finish.
How to Watch and How to Bet
How to Watch
DR Congo vs Uzbekistan is scheduled for Saturday, June 27, 2026, kicking off at 7:30 PM ET from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. US viewers can watch live on Fox Sports and Telemundo. The match is also available across a range of international broadcasters, including ITV and BBC in the UK, Globo and SporTV in Brazil, TF1 and beIN Sports in France, and ARD and ZDF in Germany.
How to Bet
If this is your first time betting on the World Cup, here is a straightforward process to get started:
- Choose a licensed and regulated sportsbook – BetOnline, Lucky Rebel, and BetNow are three established options available to US bettors.
- Create an account and verify your identity using the required documentation.
- Make a deposit using your preferred payment method; BetNow specifically supports crypto payments.
- Navigate to the soccer or football section and find the FIFA World Cup 2026 markets.
- Locate the DR Congo vs Uzbekistan fixture under Group K, Matchday 17.
- Select your preferred market – match result, totals, or anytime scorer – and check the price matches what you expect.
- Enter your stake and review your bet slip carefully before confirming.
- Track your bet live on matchday through the sportsbook app or the Fox Sports broadcast.
Responsible Gambling
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