DR Congo Celebrates Historic World Cup Qualification with National Holiday

Wed Apr 01 2026 14:03:06 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

In a historic moment for the Democratic Republic of Congo, the national football team has qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 52 years, prompting the country to declare a public holiday for celebrations.

Following their qualification for the World Cup, DR Congo has declared today a national holiday to allow citizens to celebrate their football team's historic achievement. The Leopards secured their spot with a last-minute goal against Jamaica. The nation is set to play against Portugal, Colombia, and Uzbekistan in the tournament, marking a notable return to the world stage after 52 years.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) has declared a national holiday today to celebrate a significant milestone: the national football team's qualification for the World Cup for the first time in 52 years. The Leopards secured their place in the tournament after a thrilling match where Axel Tuanzebe scored the decisive goal in extra time, leading to a 1-0 victory against Jamaica.

In recognition of this 'historic' victory, the country's ministry of labor and employment announced that citizens could enjoy a day off work to 'celebrate in unity, fervor, and national pride.' The excitement has already ignited celebrations across the capital, Kinshasa, where jubilant fans flooded the streets, chanting and cheering.

During their previous World Cup appearance in 1974, when the nation was known as Zaire, they played in only one tournament match. This year's qualification represents a significant moment in the nation's sporting history. The Leopards will start their World Cup journey against Portugal in Houston on June 17, followed by matches against Colombia and Uzbekistan.

As the 10th African nation to qualify for this year's expanded World Cup edition, which is jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, DR Congo's achievement is a source of great pride and expectation for fans and supporters alike.

The thrilling nature of Tuesday's match was highlighted by Tuanzebe's goal, which came in the 100th minute after an intense contest. As anticipation builds for their upcoming matches, the spirit of celebration across DR Congo is palpable, and striker Cédric Bakambu expressed his eagerness to join the festivities back in Kinshasa.