By Dwayne Ferreira.
Daniel Muñoz scores in the 76th minute as Colombia beat DR Congo 1-0, qualify for the World Cup round of 32 and take Group K control with a game to spare.
Colombia secured their place in the FIFA World Cup round of 32 after Daniel Muñoz’s late strike broke DR Congo’s resistance in a tense 1-0 Group K victory in Guadalajara.
Néstor Lorenzo’s side entered the contest knowing that a second successive win would guarantee progression following their 3-1 opening victory over Uzbekistan. DR Congo, encouraged by a 1-1 draw with Portugal, were seeking another result that would keep control of their qualification campaign in their own hands.
Colombia began with authority and believed they had scored inside eight minutes when Muñoz found the net. However, a VAR review ruled the Crystal Palace defender offside, giving DR Congo an early reprieve and establishing the pattern of a match in which the South Americans repeatedly encountered a disciplined defensive line.
James Rodríguez dictated much of Colombia’s possession, while Luis Díaz and Jhon Arias tried to stretch the African side from wider positions. Goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi became DR Congo’s most influential performer, making a series of interventions as Colombia increased the tempo without finding the final pass or finish.
DR Congo remained dangerous whenever they escaped the pressure. Yoane Wissa and Cédric Bakambu offered speed and physical presence on the counterattack, forcing Colombia to guard against transitions even while committing numbers forward. Their threat ensured that the match never became a one-sided exercise in attack against defence.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 76th minute. Substitute Juan Fernando Quintero spotted Muñoz advancing into space and delivered a precise pass through the defensive structure. Muñoz controlled the ball and drove his finish beyond Mpasi, this time with no offside flag to deny him.
DR Congo pushed higher during the closing stages and attempted to turn the contest into a more direct battle. Colombia responded with composure, managing possession when possible and defending their penalty area with enough authority to protect the narrow advantage through stoppage time.
Muñoz was the decisive figure at both ends of the pitch. His willingness to advance from right-back repeatedly gave Colombia an extra attacking runner, and his persistence following the disallowed first-half effort was rewarded with the goal that confirmed qualification. Mpasi’s saves, meanwhile, kept DR Congo competitive until the final whistle.
The defeat leaves DR Congo on one point from two matches, but their tournament remains alive. Their resilience against both Portugal and Colombia has shown that they can compete in Group K, although they now require a positive result against Uzbekistan and may still depend on the final group rankings.
Colombia moved to six points and became the first Group K team to reach the knockout stage. They face Portugal in their final group fixture on June 27, with first place at stake, while DR Congo meet Uzbekistan on the same day knowing that victory could carry them into the round of 32.
The result, scoring sequence and qualification implications were verified through Reuters’ match coverage and follow-up reporting.
Match Summary
Colombia – 1
Daniel Muñoz 76’
DR Congo – 0
Result: Colombia won 1-0
Player of the Match: Daniel Muñoz
Competition: FIFA World Cup 2026, Group K
Venue: Estadio Guadalajara, Zapopan, Mexico
Date: June 23, 2026
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