By Opta Analyst | Created at 2026-06-22 11:14:29 | Updated at 2026-06-24 07:08:07
1 day ago
After holding heavyweights Portugal to a brave draw in their tournament opener, can DR Congo pull off another upset? Look ahead to Wednesday’s FIFA World Cup clash with our Colombia vs DR Congo prediction and preview.
Colombia vs DR Congo: The Key Insights
- Ahead of kick-off in Guadalajara, Colombia won in 58.0% of the Opta supercomputer’s simulations.
- Wednesday’s meeting will mark the first encounter between these two sides in men’s international football.
- DR Congo are fresh off earning their first point and scoring their first goal at the World Cup after their 1-1 opening draw with Portugal.
After starting their World Cup campaign with a 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan, Colombia will look to maintain their perfect start when they face DR Congo in Guadalajara on Wednesday.
This Group K clash will be the first meeting between the two nations, though, as was the case against Uzbekistan, Colombia will be undeterred by the unfamiliar opposition.
Los Cafeteros have built an impressive record in the World Cup group stage in recent appearances, winning six of their last seven matches, with the only exception being a 2-1 defeat to Japan in 2018.
Across that run, Néstor Lorenzo’s side have been prolific, scoring 17 goals and conceding just five, suggesting DR Congo could be in for a difficult evening.
The Leopards, however, turned out a brilliant performance against Portugal, demonstrating that they are capable of causing some problems of their own.
Ending a 52-year wait to return to the World Cup, Sébastien Desabre’s side played their hearts out in what has been one of the biggest upsets of the tournament so far, holding Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal to a 1-1 draw in Houston.
That result saw them secure their first-ever point at the World Cup, and indeed, their maiden goal, courtesy of a first-half header from Yoane Wissa.
In their only previous World Cup appearance, competing as Zaire in 1974, they lost all three group matches by an aggregate score of 14-0.
This edition, though, has already suggested it’ll be a very different story.
Despite having just 24.6% possession against Portugal – the lowest figure of any side on Matchday 1 – the Leopards restricted them to seven shots, with only five teams conceding fewer.
At the other end of the pitch, Desabre’s side adopted a more ambitious approach, firing six of their eight shots from outside the box (75%), the highest proportion of any side across the opening round of games.
Only two of those efforts hit the target, though, which is an area they will certainly hope to improve on against Colombia.
Replicating those defensive efforts against the likes of Luis Díaz and James Rodríguez, though, may prove to be a much bigger challenge as Lorenzo’s side have scored in each of their last 10 World Cup matches.
Indeed, that is the joint-longest active scoring streak of any team in the tournament, alongside defending champions Argentina.
Victory on Wednesday would also secure Colombia’s place in the knockout stage for a third consecutive World Cup appearance, having progressed from the group phase in both 2014 and 2018. Prior to this, they had reached the knockout rounds only once in four attempts.
If Los Cafeteros are to extend this run, much may depend on Díaz, who shined against Uzbekistan with a goal and an assist.
The winger also managed six touches in Uzbekistan’s box, while attempting four dribbles, winning eight duels and five fouls – more than any other Colombia player on the night.
DR Congo, meanwhile, will once again look to Wissa for inspiration.
Should the Newcastle United forward score in Guadalajara, he would become only the second African player to score in each of his first two World Cup appearances, after Egypt’s Mohamed Salah did so in 2018.
Colombia vs DR Congo Head-to-Head
Wednesday’s contest will present plenty of unknowns, as it will be the first meeting between Colombia and DR Congo.
It will also be only the second time DR Congo have come up against a team from the CONMEBOL confederation, after they were beaten 2-1 by Chile in a pre-tournament friendly just days before the World Cup.
Colombia lost their first World Cup match against African opposition, falling 2-1 to Cameroon in 1990. But they have since won all three such games, each by a one-goal margin: 1-0 against Tunisia in 1990, 2-1 against Ivory Coast in 2014, and 1-0 against Senegal in 2018.
Colombia vs DR Congo Prediction
The Opta supercomputer could not look past a Colombia win in Guadalajara, with Lorenzo’s side taking three points in 58% of the 25,000 pre-match simulations.
Meanwhile, the chances of DR Congo pulling off another upset, and a draw are rated exactly the same at 21%.
Colombia vs DR Congo Squads
Colombia: David Ospina, Camilo Vargas, Álvaro Montero, Daniel Muñoz, Jhon Lucumí, Santiago Arias, Yerry Mina, Johan Mojica, Willer Ditta, Deiver Machado, Davinson Sánchez, Kevin Castaño, Richard Ríos, Jorge Carrascal, James Rodríguez, Jhon Arias, Gustavo Puerta, Juan Portilla, Jefferson Lerma, Juan Fernando Quintero, Jaminton Campaz, Luis Díaz, Jhon Córdoba, Cucho Hernández, Luis Suárez, Andrés Gómez.
DR Congo: Lionel Mpasi, Timothy Fayulu, Matthieu Epolo, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Steve Kapuadi, Axel Tuanzebe, Dylan Batubinsika, Joris Kayembe, Chancel Mbemba, Gédéon Kalulu, Arthur Masuaku, Ngal’ayel Mukau, Samuel Moutoussamy, Théo Bongonda, Gaël Kakuta, Noah Sadiki, Aaron Tshibola, Charles Pickel, Edo Kayembe, Nathanaël Mbuku, Brian Cipenga, Meschack Elia, Cédric Bakambu, Fiston Mayele, Yoane Wissa, Simon Banza.
Colombia vs DR Congo Predicted Lineups
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