Colombia 1-0 DR Congo - 2026 World Cup Match Report and Player Ratings

Colombia Defy Mpasi Masterclass to Earn Win

Daniel Munoz got another big goal at this World Cup to seal a huge win for Colombia against DR Congo on Wednesday morning, but many plaudits will be reserved for an incredible performance from goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi.

The Congolese 'keeper made save after save as Colombia mounted incredible pressure on their African foes and kept them right within the contest. However, a deflected, powerful hit from the Crystal Palace fullback would finally beat him, and indeed DR Congo in general.

The result sees Colombia move atop Group K after Portgual's win over Uzbekistan earlier in the night, with the latter eliminated from the World Cup but lying in wait for DR Congo in what will be a huge match for their third-placed aspirations.

📸 - VOZINHA FIRST, THEN ROOM, NOW MPASI NZAU IS HAVING HIS NIGHT! pic.twitter.com/T62ALflxGT

— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) June 24, 2026

Colombia 1-0 DR Congo As It Happened

It almost took just 50 seconds and the goal of the tournament to open the scoring in Guadalajara, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka finding Edo Kayembe from long range. He let rip with a powerful left-footed drive that had Camilo Vargas sweating, but ultimately flew just over the bar.

In a frantic beginning, Colombia bit back by almost immediately opening the scoring themselves. Amidst a suffocating Congolese press, an overlapping run from Johan Mojica preceeded the left-back cutting the ball back well for Jhon Arias in the box. His shot was well saved by Lionel Mpasi, but fell straight to Crystal Palace star Daniel Munoz who couldn't guide the rushed effort on target.

With only six minutes on the clock, Munoz would indeed get the ball into the back of the net. An outrageous pass from Mojica found his fellow fullback rushing into the box. An initial towering header forced Mpasi into a save that again fell straight back to him to head home from an inch out, but the flag went up to disallow it as Mpasi received treatment for his knock suffered in the ruled out goal.

With Colombia now taking control, James Rodriguez came ever so close to getting another screamer added to his World Cup catalogue. A clever win-back from Mojica eventually saw the Minnesota midfielder line up an effort from all of 30 yards, which curved away from Mpasi and towards the bottom-right corner only for the 'keeper to brilliantly turn it around the post.

Mpasi was being kept incredibly busy over the first 15 minutes as Colombia began to dominate. Luis Diaz was the next man to give him a test after Mojica had tested his gloves with a teasing long-range effort - the Bayern star picked possession up on the left of the box and provided a signature cut-and-shoot effort, but Mpasi was once again equal to it.

If you can believe it, Mpasi was again tested by a teasing Colombia long-ranger, and once again he was equal to it. It was Gustavo Puerta to try his luck from all of 25 yards, but the Congolese shot-stopper flew away to his left to beat the strike away.

DR Congo did manage to cut out one good chance through the chaos with only a few left of the first half. Arthur Masuaku, who was impressive through the first half with his creative play, swung a beautiful ball into the area for Cedric Bakambu to attack. The Real Betis star launched himself at the flighted ball, but couldn't make contact as Camilo Vargas came out to claim it.

Halftime Score - Colombia 0-0 DR Congo

As Seb Hutchinson rightly stated on UK commentary, Mpasi was truly having 'one of those games' - he was called into action once again to deny Diaz of the opener just five minutes after half time.

A long cross from the right fell fortuitously at the feet of the winger, and his low left-footed effort was kept out well by the trailing leg of the DR Congo shot-stopper. Arias would pick up the pieces and strike at goal himself, but the former Wolves man would drag his eventual effort wide of the mark.

Mojica was again thwarted by an imperious Mpasi display - the Mallorca defender sent another delicious cross into the box with Munoz lurking at the back post, but the keeper acrobatically rose to divert the set-up behind the post.

DR Congo would come forward for a rare chance, and it was carved out well between a pair of substitutes. First, Simon Banza brought down a left-sided cross well for Wissa to strike at, but his shot was blocked away. It fell only as far as Charles Pickel who tried to recycle it, but it was charged down well by Davinson Sanchez.

But finally, after a tidal wave of chances, Colombia would finally get a breakthrough through Daniel Munoz for the second time at this World Cup.

Juan Quintero and Jhon Cordoba linked up well to deliver the ball on a plate for the talisman of the team - the former's pass through was cute and lacking in power, but Cordoba used his size and strength to hold off the encroaching Congo defender. It thus made it's way through for Munoz, who hit a deflected effort that wrong-footed Mpasi and made it's way home for 1-0.

Diaz would have the ball in the back of the net shortly after, felling Chancel Mbemba in a battle for a long ball before lofting Mpasi with a cool demeanour, but the challenge on the defender was ruled as a foul to cancel out the goal.

Immediately after, Diaz would once again be denied by the intervention of an official. He got his chance to break in on the left flank before getting a chance to shimmy between the challenges and wrap a thunderous strike home, but once again he was denied by decision - a rising flag judged him to have been offside from the initial ball in behind.

Mpasi, still standing tall to the Colombian chance, would be called into action once again five minutes from time. Gustavo Puerta, who had a penchant for a long-ranged attempt throughout the affair, had another go after a fortunately-falling clearance to the edge of the area. He struck with venom, but Mpasi once again turned the ball around the post.

With the game creeping into stoppage time, substitute Nathaneal Mbuku let rip with a powerful long-range effort with DR Congo finding some rare, late momentum to push on for a late leveller. It swerved on it's way through to Vargas, but the veteran beat it away in one of his only mainstream actions of the night.

Full-time Score - Colombia 1-0 DR Congo

Colombia Player Ratings

• Camilo Vargas - 6

• Johan Mojica - 8

• Jhon Lucumi - 6

• Davinson Sanchez - 7

• Daniel Munoz - 8

• Gustavo Puerta - 6

• Jefferson Lerma - 6

• Luis Diaz - 7

• James Rodriguez - 7

• Jhon Arias - 6

• Luis Suarez - 6

Substitutes

• Juan Quintero (58') - 8

• Jhon Cordoba (58') - 8

• Richard Rios (77') - 6

DR Congo Player Ratings

• Lionel Mpasi - 9

• Arthur Masuaku - 8

• Steve Kapuadi - 6

• Axel Tuanzebe - 7

• Chancel Mbemba - 6

• Aaron Wan-Bissaka - 7

• Edo Kayembe - 6

• Samuel Moutoussamy - 6

• Ngal'ayel Mukau - 5

• Yoane Wissa - 5

• Cedric Bakambu - 6

Substitutes

• Noah Sadiki (HT) - 7

• Simon Banza (57') - 7

• Charles Pickel (72') - 7

• Joris Ditu (72') - 6

• Nathaneal Mbuku (82') - 7

Man of the Match - Lionel Mpasi

5 - Congo DR's Lionel Mpasi made five saves in the opening 20 minutes against Colombia, the first goalkeeper to record five saves in the first 20 minutes of a FIFA World Cup match since Warren Barrett for Jamaica vs. Argentina in 1998.

Busy. pic.twitter.com/QRig7rDhPT

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 24, 2026

Oh, so what if he conceded in the end? We love an underdog, especially a goalkeeper and especially at a World Cup. And Lionel Mpasi deserves his flowers this evening.

He recorded a mammoth five saves in the opening 20 minutes of play and was equal to everything that Colombia could throw at him, until a cruel deflection sent him the wrong way for 1-0.

First Vozinha. Then Room. Then Al-Owais. Now Mpasi. This World Cup has been the tournament of the underdog goalkeeper.

Further shoutouts are reserved for Mojica, Munoz and Diaz for Colombia, as well as Wan-Bissaka and Masuaku for DR Congo. A good night for wing-backs, basically.