Colombia secured their place in the knockout stage of the 2026 World Cup with a narrow 1-0 victory over DR Congo at Estadio Guadalajara. This win places Colombia firmly in control of Group K as they prepare for their upcoming match against Portugal.

Match Overview

Under the management of Nestor Lorenzo, Colombia demonstrated their dominance throughout the match, recording 20 shots that yielded an expected goals (xG) total of 1.03. In contrast, DR Congo managed only eight attempts, resulting in a mere 0.39 xG. The standout performer for Colombia was Daniel Munoz, who scored the decisive goal.

The match began with a promising start for Colombia, as Munoz nearly found the net early on, hitting the outside of the post after Jhon Arias' shot was parried by DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi. Munoz had another opportunity in the sixth minute, but his goal was disallowed for offside following a header that was saved. Mpasi was kept busy throughout the first half, making crucial saves against efforts from Luis Diaz, James Rodriguez, and Gustavo Puerta.

Decisive Moment

The breakthrough came in the 76th minute when Munoz scored after a pass from Juan Fernando Quintero deflected off Steve Kapuadi, sending the ball into the bottom-left corner. Despite some late drama, including two disallowed goals for Diaz and a last-minute save from Camilo Vargas to deny Nathanael Mbuku, Colombia held on for the win.

Munoz's goal marks a significant achievement, as he becomes the fourth Colombian player to score in consecutive World Cup matches, following in the footsteps of Yerry Mina, who last accomplished this feat in 2018. With this victory, Colombia can secure the top position in Group K with a draw against Portugal, while DR Congo faces a must-win situation to have any chance of progressing.