Finally, 52 years and countless heartbreaks later, they are going back to the World Cup after Axel Tuanzebe scored the only goal in extra time. It’s incredible.”The celebrations at the end were a release for DR Congo players (Simon Barber/Getty Images)This wasn’t just for them. With two Africa Cup of Nations wins in the six years before that World Cup, they had the look of a football nation on the rise. The World Cup became a distant, melancholy memory and a dream, forever out of reach. Today, we’ve taken a big step.”Thoughts will soon turn to the World Cup proper.

Source: International New York Times April 01, 2026 18:01 UTC