Havana, June 17 (RHC) – In the streets and neighborhoods of Kinshasa and the main cities of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the population celebrated the debut today of the national team in the 2026 World Cup, with a draw against Portugal.
Many fans had gathered in public places to watch the match and celebrated the 1-1 draw achieved at NRG Stadium in Houston, USA, 52 years after a national team’s participation in this competition.
Others took to the streets and squares with national flags, horns, and loudspeakers, in a joy that was also felt in Congolese communities abroad, as happened in Angola, under extensive coverage by the neighboring country’s public television.
The President of the DRC, Félix Tshisekedi, was among those who attended the event in the North American nation to support the Leopards, as they are known by the fans, in a match where many considered the Portuguese the undisputed favorites.
The first minutes of the match were dominated by Portugal, who managed to maintain the pressure until João Neves scored with a header in the 6th minute.
The goal spurred the Leopards into action, and they managed to balance the game somewhat, although they missed several scoring opportunities.
The equalizer came in the final minute of first-half stoppage time, when Yoane Wissa became the first Congolese player to score in a World Cup match.
The Democratic Republic of Congo-United States Friendship Group in the National Assembly praised the national football team for the result of their opening match of the World Cup, which for many felt like a victory, according to the Congolese Press Agency (ACP).
The president of the parliamentary group, National Assembly member Joseph Bangakya, highlighted the fact that they drew with Portugal, currently fifth in the FIFA rankings, while the DRC is ranked 46th.
