
The final day of World Cup 2026 Group K action brings a match with serious stakes: DR Congo and Uzbekistan both need a result at Atlanta Stadium on Saturday, June 27. DR Congo sit third with one point from their two games and can still qualify for the Round of 32 if they beat Uzbekistan in their final group game. Uzbekistan’s head coach is former World Cup-winning defender Fabio Cannavaro, who captained Italy to the title in 2006. Two teams with everything to play for, and a venue to match the occasion.
Match Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | DR Congo vs Uzbekistan |
| Tournament | FIFA World Cup 2026 โ Group K |
| Date | Saturday, June 27, 2026 |
| Venue | Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium), Atlanta, Georgia, USA |
| Kickoff | 7:30 p.m. EDT / 12:30 a.m. BST (June 28) / 9:30 a.m. AEST (June 28) |
Tournament Context: World Cup 2026 Group K
World Cup 2026 Group K features Portugal, DR Congo, Uzbekistan, and Colombia. The group has produced some memorable moments already. DR Congo earned their first-ever World Cup point in a 1-1 draw with Portugal, with Yoane Wissa heading home in stoppage time of the first half. Colombia then beat DR Congo 1-0 thanks to a Daniel Muรฑoz goal in the 76th minute, sealing the Colombian side’s place in the knockout round. Meanwhile, Portugal bounced back from their draw to thrash Uzbekistan 5-0 in the second round of matches.
Going into this final fixture, the picture is clear. Portugal leads the group with 4 points, followed by Colombia with 6 points, DR Congo in third with 1 point, and Uzbekistan at the bottom with 0 points and a -7 goal difference. For DR Congo, a win means they keep their qualification hopes alive as one of the best third-placed teams. For Uzbekistan, three points would be their first of the tournament and a historic result for a nation making its World Cup debut.
The full World Cup 2026 Group K schedule:
- June 17: Portugal 1-1 DR Congo โ NRG Stadium, Houston (1:00 p.m. ET)
- June 17: Uzbekistan 1-3 Colombia โ Estadio Azteca, Mexico City (10:00 p.m. ET)
- June 23: Portugal 5-0 Uzbekistan โ NRG Stadium, Houston (1:00 p.m. ET)
- June 23: Colombia 1-0 DR Congo โ Estadio Akron, Zapopan (10:00 p.m. ET)
- June 27: DR Congo vs Uzbekistan โ Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta (7:30 p.m. ET)
- June 27: Colombia vs Portugal โ Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens (7:30 p.m. ET)
The top two teams from each group advance to the new Round of 32, with the eight best third-placed finishers also progressing.
DR Congo vs Uzbekistan: Predicted Lineups
DR Congo Predicted XI
Appointed in August 2022, DR Congo head coach Sรฉbastien Desabre has completely revitalised the national team. Known affectionately as the “White Wizard,” Desabre favours a methodical, transition-based philosophy and has shown flexibility in his system, lining up in both a 5-3-2 and a more conventional back four across the tournament.
| Position | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| GK | Lionel Mpasi | Standard Liรจge |
| RB | Aaron Wan-Bissaka | West Ham United |
| CB | Chancel Mbemba (c) | Lille |
| CB | Dylan Batubinsika | Stuttgart |
| CB | Arthur Masuaku | Besiktas |
| LB | Steve Kapuadi | Saint-รtienne |
| CM | Noah Sadiki | Anderlecht |
| CM | Samuel Moutoussamy | Getafe |
| AM | Gaรซl Kakuta | Lens |
| ST | Yoane Wissa | Newcastle United |
| ST | Cรฉdric Bakambu | Olympiakos |
Note: Thรฉo Bongonda is unavailable through injury for this match.
Uzbekistan Predicted XI
Uzbekistan’s head coach Fabio Cannavaro won the 2006 World Cup with Italy as a player. He has built his side around a disciplined defensive structure with quick transitions through the midfield. Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov is the player who most determines whether Uzbekistan’s defensive structure can hold firm.
| Position | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| GK | Abdulla Abdullaev | Pakhtakor |
| RB | Bekhruzjon Karimov | Pakhtakor |
| CB | Abdukodir Khusanov | Manchester City |
| CB | Sherzod Nasrullayev | Pakhtakor |
| LB | Khojiakbar Alijonov | Lokomotiv Tashkent |
| CM | Odiljon Khamrobekov | Pakhtakor |
| CM | Otabek Shukurov | Qarabag |
| CM | Jamshid Iskanderov | Pakhtakor |
| AM | Abbosbek Fayzullaev | Qarabag |
| ST | Eldor Shomurodov | Istanbul Basaksehir |
| ST | Oston Urunov | Rubin Kazan |
Note: Rustamjon Ashurmatov is unavailable due to injury.
Tactical Snapshot: What to Expect
This match sets up as a contrast in styles. Desabre has leaned into a deep defensive block and counter-attacking approach, with Sadiki and Moutoussamy providing energy and intensity in midfield, while Wissa leads the attack. Uzbekistan will also want to attack, knowing this is their best chance of a first World Cup win, but protecting Khusanov’s fitness across the match will be important, as the Manchester City centre-back is the player who most determines whether Uzbekistan’s defensive structure can withstand pressure. With both sides needing points, expect end-to-end football and a high-energy atmosphere in Atlanta.
About the Venue: Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium)
Mercedes-Benz Stadium opened in 2017 and has a listed capacity of 71,000. It is home to the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United FC and features a retractable roof. During the World Cup, the venue is officially called Atlanta Stadium, as FIFA uses neutral names for all host venues during the tournament. The stadium was the first professional sports venue in North America to earn LEED Platinum certification and holds Platinum certification for zero waste, with 4,000 solar panels producing around 1.6 million kilowatt hours per year.
Atlanta Stadium is hosting eight matches during the FIFA World Cup 2026, including a semi-final fixture on July 15. The retractable roof is a significant advantage for summer matches in Atlanta, where heat and humidity can be intense. The stadium is accessible via the Blue and Green Lines of MARTA, Atlanta’s public rapid transit system, with GWCC/CNN Center and Vine City stations serving the venue. For fans attending in person, arriving early and using public transport is strongly recommended.
Where to Watch DR Congo vs Uzbekistan Live Stream
Finding the DR Congo vs Uzbekistan live stream is straightforward once you know your region. Every World Cup 2026 game is free-to-air on SBS on Demand in Australia and either BBC iPlayer or ITVX in the UK.
In the United States, DR Congo vs Uzbekistan airs on FS1 (Fox Sports 1) with a kickoff at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The Spanish-language broadcast is on Universo, and all 104 games are available to stream in Spanish on Peacock.
Here is how to watch online in five simple steps:
- Find your country’s official broadcaster in the table below
- Download the broadcaster’s app (BBC iPlayer, ITVX, SBS On Demand, FS1, etc.)
- Create a free account if required โ most free-to-air apps only need an email address
- Navigate to the FIFA World Cup 2026 section and find DR Congo vs Uzbekistan
- Log in 10โ15 minutes before the 7:30 p.m. EDT kickoff to avoid last-minute technical issues
All major broadcaster apps support iOS, Android, smart TVs, Apple TV, Fire Stick, and desktop browsers.
Best Free Viewing Options: Quick Summary
| Region | Broadcaster | Free? | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | BBC | ✅ Free | BBC iPlayer |
| USA | Fox / FS1 | 💳 Cable/subscription | Fox Sports app |
| USA | Telemundo | 💳 Subscription | Peacock |
| Canada | CTV | ✅ Free (over the air) | CTV App |
| Canada | TSN / RDS | 💳 Subscription | TSN+ / RDS App |
| Mexico | TelevisaUnivision / TV Azteca | ✅ Free | ViX / TV Azteca app |
| Croatia | HRT | ✅ Free | HRTi |
| Panama | Telemetro / RPC | ✅ Free | Telemetro app |
| Brazil | TV Globo / CazรฉTV | ✅ Free | Globoplay / YouTube |
| Germany | ARD / ZDF (select matches) / MagentaTV | Mixed | ARD Mediathek / MagentaTV |
| Australia | SBS | ✅ Free | SBS On Demand |
| MENA | beIN Sports | 💳 Subscription | beIN CONNECT app |
| India | Zee Entertainment | 💳 Subscription | Zee5 |
| Global fallback | FIFA+ | Varies | plus.fifa.com |
DR Congo vs Uzbekistan is much more than a dead rubber. DR Congo’s final group game against Uzbekistan represents their most favourable opportunity to claim a historic victory and potentially advance as one of the best third-placed teams. For Uzbekistan, a win would cap an incredible debut World Cup campaign and give Fabio Cannavaro’s side a first-ever tournament victory to build on. With Atlanta Stadium providing a world-class backdrop and free viewing options available across the globe, there is no reason to miss a minute of this Group K decider.








