The Minister of Sports of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Didier Boudembo, believes his country’s national team can defeat Portugal at the 2026 World Cup and make Cristiano Ronaldo cry.
The Democratic Republic of Congo qualified for the World Cup after a five-decade absence, following a 1-0 victory over Jamaica in the intercontinental play-off final held in Mexico last week.
The “Leopards” will be drawn in Group K alongside Portugal, Colombia, and Uzbekistan at the World Cup, and Boudembo is confident his country will go far in the tournament hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Congolese Sports Minister: We Will Make Ronaldo Cry
During a large gathering of national team supporters in the Congolese capital, Kinshasa, to celebrate their qualification for the World Cup, the minister said, “It wasn’t easy. We fought hard to get here, and we and the fans must continue to support the team in the 2026 World Cup.”
He added, “In our first match of the 2026 World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo will cry (DR Congo will achieve a resounding victory over Portugal).”
He concluded, “The team is striving to make history after a long absence from the World Cup, amidst unprecedented public and official support, which strengthens our national team’s hopes for a respectable showing during the tournament.”
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Date of the DR Congo vs. Portugal match in the 2026 World Cup
The Democratic Republic of Congo will begin its World Cup campaign against Portugal on June 17 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
The match will kick off at 8:00 PM Mecca time.
On June 24, DR Congo will face Colombia, and the group stage will conclude with a match against Uzbekistan on June 28 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
It is reported that Congolese media revealed that the Congolese national team players requested the government to allow the famous fan who mimics the salute of leader Patrice Lumumba to travel with the official delegation to the World Cup.
This fan became famous after standing throughout Congo’s matches in the recent 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where the Leopards were eliminated in the round of 16 after losing to Algeria in the final minutes of extra time.
Precious gifts for the Congolese players after qualifying for the 2026 World Cup
The Congolese players received a huge popular and official welcome in the streets of Kinshasa on Sunday amidst thousands of jubilant citizens. The players were then received at the People’s Palace by the President himself.
Tshisekedi decided to give each player on the Congolese roster a house and a four-wheel-drive vehicle as a reward for qualifying for the World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
At the same time, the president delivered an important message to all the players and coaching staff, urging them to shine at the World Cup and not just participate for the sake of it. He said, “You possess the talent and ability to overcome any challenge you face. Make us proud once again of our Congolese heritage.”
He added, “We want to be among the best teams in Africa by delivering a fantastic performance at the upcoming World Cup.”
