Colombia secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over DR Congo to book their place in the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, thanks to a decisive late goal from Daniel Muñoz.
The South American side dominated much of the encounter played in Guadalajara, but had to wait until the 76th minute to break the deadlock.
Muñoz, who had earlier missed key chances, made amends when his effort took a deflection and beat DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi.
With the win, Colombia climb to the top of Group K with six points, putting them two points ahead of Portugal, who delivered a commanding 5-0 win over Uzbekistan earlier in the day.
Colombia started brightly, applying relentless pressure and creating multiple scoring opportunities.
However, Mpasi delivered an outstanding performance in goal, making several crucial saves to keep the African side in contention. Efforts from Luis Díaz, James Rodríguez, and Johan Mojica were all denied in an impressive display of goalkeeping.
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Despite being on the back foot for much of the game, DR Congo showed resilience and nearly snatched a late equalizer.
In stoppage time, Nathanael Mbuku forced a sharp save from Colombian goalkeeper Camilo Vargas, ensuring Colombia held on to their slim lead.
The victory marks a significant milestone for Colombia, who failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup and are now making a strong statement in their return to the global stage.
Colombia will next face Portugal in a decisive group clash in Miami, while DR Congo take on Uzbekistan in Atlanta, still holding a slim chance of advancing to the knockout rounds in their first World Cup appearance since 1974.
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