Colombia Advances to World Cup Knockout Stage with 1-0 Victory Over DR Congo

Colombia secured a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout round with a 1-0 triumph over the Democratic Republic of the Congo on June 24 at Estadio Guadalajara in Mexico. Daniel Muñoz, a defender for Crystal Palace, scored the decisive goal in the 76th minute with a low strike, extending his tournament tally to two goals. The victory marked Colombia's second consecutive win in Group K and clinched their qualification to the Round of 16 for the first time in eight years.

Colombia dominated large portions of the match, creating numerous scoring opportunities throughout. The African side mounted a spirited defensive effort, with goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi producing several crucial saves to keep the score level for much of the contest. Colombia created early chances through Luis Díaz and others, while DR Congo occasionally threatened on the counterattack, with Cedric Bakambu coming closest to scoring in the first half. The breakthrough came when Juan Quintero's precise pass found Jhon Cordoba, whose positioning allowed Muñoz to finish clinically past Mpasi.

With a perfect record of 6 points from two matches, Colombia tops Group K standings, holding a two-point advantage over second-placed Portugal heading into their final group fixture. Coach Néstor Lorenzo praised his team's performance and tactical improvement, noting that playing against defensively organized opponents has strengthened Colombia's ability to create multiple attacking channels. He defended James Rodríguez from recent criticism, emphasizing the midfielder's solid performance and the overall collective effort. Despite the comfortable victory, Lorenzo acknowledged that Portugal will present a more formidable challenge as a team equally committed to possession-based attacking football.

The 2026 World Cup features 48 teams across three nations—Canada, Mexico, and the United States—marking a significant expansion from the traditional 32-team format. Colombia will face Portugal in Miami on June 28, while DR Congo must defeat Uzbekistan in Atlanta on the same day to harbor any hope of advancing. Muñoz attributed the victory to the team's intensity and aggression, noting that the group effort earned the three points and emphasizing that the collective unit, not individuals, deserves credit for the success.