Each Player Will Receive $1 Million Bonus If They Qualify For 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Each Player Will Receive $1 Million Bonus If They Qualify For 2026 FIFA World Cup.

DR Congo players are set to receive a $1 million bonus each if they qualify for the 2026 World Cup, thanks to an announcement by President Félix Tshisekedi. This massive incentive aims to motivate the team as they push for a spot in the global tournament.

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The Leopards finished second in Group B of the World Cup qualifiers with impressive wins, including a 2-0 victory over Mauritania and a 4-1 thrashing of South Sudan.

A World Cup qualification would mark their second appearance, following their debut in 1974 as Zaire.

DR Congo national football team (formerly the Zaire national football team) have appeared in the FIFA World Cup on one occasion in 1974 when they were known as Zaire.

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They were the first Sub-Saharan African team to participate in a World Cup. Despite respectable performances against Scotland and Brazil they were defeated in all three matches with a total goal difference of 0–14.

Zaire 0-2 Scotland
Zaire 0-3 Brazil
Zaire 0-9 Yugoslavia

The road ahead is challenging, but with talented players like Cédric Bakambu and Fiston Mayele leading the charge, DR Congo has a good shot at making it to the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

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Next up, DR Congo will face off against Cameroon in a crucial semi-final match on November 13, 2025, in Rabat, Morocco, as part of a mini-tournament featuring four African teams. The winner will advance to the FIFA Play-Off Inter-Continental Tournament in March 2026 for a chance to secure Africa’s 10th and final spot at the 2026 World Cup.