DR Congo Awaits World Cup Play-off Winner: Jamaica vs New Caledonia
DR Congo's Lionel Mpasi says qualification would be “historic” as they face play-off winner.
DR Congo faces the winner of Jamaica vs New Caledonia on March 31st for a World Cup spot...
DR Congo's goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi says qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup would be historic for the nation. The Leopards are aiming to return to the global stage after a 52-year absence, and Mpasi considers it the pinnacle of his career.
Mpasi expressed his excitement, stating, “Disputer le Mondial serait le summum de ma carrière” (Playing in the World Cup would be the highlight of my career). The team has overcome tough opponents, beating Cameroon and Nigeria, and now faces the winner of Jamaica vs New Caledonia in the play-off tournament on March 31st.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is shaping up to be a historic event - it'll be the first tournament hosted by three nations (US, Canada, and Mexico) and the first to feature 48 teams, up from 32.
DR Congo is making a comeback of sorts, having last appeared in the World Cup back in 1974 as Zaire. They were the first Sub-Saharan African team to qualify, but their debut didn't go as planned - they lost all three matches and finished last in their group.
🌟 La passe de 10 pour Lionel Mpasi !
— Congolese Football News (@CongoleseFNews) January 1, 2026
Pour sa 23e cap avec la RDC 🇨🇩, l’international congolais 🇨🇩 a réalisé son 10e clean sheet 🧤 face au Botswana. @parigoLion
Félicitations à Lionel arrivé en 2021 dans le tanière des léopards 🐆.#Rdc #Congo #CAN2025 pic.twitter.com/f5PbsDHPeZ
DR Congo's last World Cup appearance ended in a three-match losing streak: 2-0 to Scotland, 9-0 to Yugoslavia, and 3-0 to Brazil. But after 52 years, they're looking to return to the global stage under coach Sebastien Desabre.
The Leopards face the winner of Jamaica vs New Caledonia on March 31st in their play-off tie. A win would put them back on track for World Cup qualification.
Historic Moment Awaits: DR Congo Eyes World Cup Return
“Playing in the World Cup after 52 years would be historic for the country. We know that everyone is eager for us to make it and as a player, it would be the pinnacle of my career,” Mpasi, who plays for Ligue 1 club Le Havre, told FIFA.com.
“If I get the chance to play in a World Cup, having made it to the highest level in France and getting my first minutes in Ligue 1 this year, then I could say that I’ve done everything I wanted to in football. If I reflect on everything I’ve been through, I have a lot to be proud of.”
On how he feels heading into the FIFA play-off Tournament, he said: “I can’t wait! Until now, I’ve been focused on my matches with Le Havre, but from the moment I arrive in Mexico, the excitement will only grow.
“For a match like this, you don’t need any extra motivation.”
📋 𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐄 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐄
— Fecofa RDC_Officiel (@FecofaRdc) March 11, 2026
🌟 26 Léopards 🐆 sélectionnés par le sélectionneur-manager Sébastien Desabre 🇨🇩 pour la dernière ligne droite des qualifications à la Coupe du Monde, avec un rendez-vous décisif à Guadalajara, au Mexique 🇲🇽.#FecofaRDC #AllezLesLéopards… pic.twitter.com/jPRlKotC8I
Mpasi added: “It’s inevitably going to be tough. Even though we are above both nations on the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, anything can happen on the pitch. I think it will be similar to when we lost to Algeria in the Africa Cup of Nations, a tight game decided by small details.”
Mpasi's Message: DR Congo Must Believe
Goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi says DR Congo must keep believing as they eye World Cup qualification. Mpasi, born in Paris to Congolese parents, reflected on how the team overcame a tough group stage, finishing just two points behind Senegal.
“With dedication and hard work. We’ve been through two phases of qualifiers, and we were first in our group for a long time, but we missed out on qualifying directly in our second match against Senegal (a 3-2 defeat),” added Mpasi.
“We were disappointed, but we knew our path to the World Cup would be difficult, not impossible. We beat Cameroon and then Nigeria, so now we are just one step away from the World Cup. You always have to believe.”
On being rated second choice goalkeeper by coach Desabre, Mpasi, who played every minute for the Leopards at the recent 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, opened up: “It’s a great challenge for me! I tell myself that I work hard every day with a Ligue 1 squad so I am ready when I am called upon.
“Things have been going really well this season at Le Havre. The competition is fierce. Sebastien could be worried as I haven’t played many first-team games, but he has put his faith in me and I repay him by staying ready.”
On whether DR Congo have studied their opponents Jamaica or New Caledonia,” Mpasi said: “A few of us are in a Snapchat group and Cedric (Bakambu, Congo DR forward) sent us highlights from Jamaica v Nigeria (a friendly match on 31 May 2025 which ended with a win for Nigeria on penalties).
“As Nigeria is a team we know well, it was a useful point of reference. We haven’t seen as much of New Caledonia, but I think the main thing will be to focus on ourselves. We certainly have a lot of tactical work to do when we’re there.”
The Guadalajara Stadium and Monterrey Stadium in Mexico will host crucial World Cup qualification matches. The semi-finals kick off today, March 26th, with the finals scheduled for March 31st. The winners will secure a spot in the global finals in North America, happening June and July 2026.
DR Congo's goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi is optimistic about their chances, saying qualifying would be “historic” for the nation. They face the winner of Jamaica vs New Caledonia on March 31st, needing a win to make it to the World Cup for the first time since 1974.
The Leopards are on fire, DR Congo topped the charts as one of the best four second-place finishers in CAF qualifying, then took down powerhouses Cameroon and Nigeria to secure their spot in the play-off Tournament.
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