2026 Dünya Kupası: RDC, İngiltere'ye 2-1 Mağlup Oldu

In the 2026 Dünya Kupası, Demokratik Kongo Cumhuriyeti (RDC) were defeated 2-1 by İngiltere in the last 32 round, bidding farewell to the tournament. In the match played at the stadium in Atlanta, Leoparlar managed to take a 1-0 lead with Brian Cipenga's early goal. However, İngiltere turned the match around with two goals in the second half and secured the victory. With this result, RDC missed the opportunity to advance to the next round in a Dünya Kupası for the first time in their history.

With the starting whistle of the match, RDC unexpectedly displayed a pressing game. When the clock showed 5 minutes, Cipenga sent the ball into the nets with a strike from outside the penalty box and put his team ahead. This goal filled RDC fans with great joy. İngiltere, on the other hand, struggled to regroup throughout the first half and had difficulty breaking down the RDC defense. The first half ended with a 1-0 RDC advantage.

İngiltere started the second half with more determination and took control of the game. In the 55th minute, Harry Kane equalized the score with a header. This goal boosted İngiltere's morale while breaking RDC's resistance. In the 70th minute, İngiltere took the lead with Jude Bellingham's stylish strike. Although RDC pushed for an equalizer in the final minutes, the İngiltere defense successfully held on.

This performance by RDC once again showcased the development of African football. By displaying such an assertive game in the first Dünya Kupası they participated in, the team made things difficult for major teams. The struggle of Cipenga and his teammates, in particular, created huge echoes in the country. However, they fell behind İngiltere in terms of experience and depth.

With this result, İngiltere advanced to the last 16 round, while the tournament ended for RDC. RDC's successful performance is considered a promising sign for future tournaments. RDC, the rising value of African football, especially drew attention with its young players. İngiltere, on the other hand, is waiting for a stronger opponent in the next round.