DR Congo – Uzbekistan Preview – Can the Leopards earn a best third-place spot?
DR Congo’s route to the Round of 32 runs through this game. Win, reach four points as a group third, and they are still in the reckoning for the best third-place comparison across the tournament. Fall short and it is over. How the Leopards set up on 27 June will be shaped entirely by that arithmetic.
For Uzbekistan, 23:30 GMT at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta is a farewell fixture. Their debut World Cup campaign has been a brutal lesson in the gap between qualifying and playing at this level. Eight goals conceded across two matches, including a 5-0 defeat to Portugal in Matchday 2, makes their defensive problems plain.
Colombia and Portugal are already through. Only DR Congo still have something concrete to fight for. Several Matchday 3 fixtures carry make-or-break stakes for at least one side, as we covered in our Tunisia – Netherlands preview from 25 June.
DR Congo – Uzbekistan Betting Tips
Betting Tip: DR Congo to win
DR Congo drew 1-1 with Portugal in their opening match, then lost narrowly to Colombia. That is not a group stage to be embarrassed by, and it puts the Leopards in a different category from their opponents on the night. Against a Uzbekistan side that has yet to find any defensive solidity, and with everything riding on the result, the Leopards have both the means and the motivation to get over the line.
Head to the World Cup betting odds to see the current prices before kick-off.
One thing to watch ahead of the teamsheets: Chancel Mbemba carries a yellow card into this fixture and sits one booking from suspension. DR Congo will manage him carefully, though it should not blunt their attacking intent.
Betting Tip: Over 2.5 goals
Goal difference could decide DR Congo’s fate if the third-place standings come down to fine margins. That gives the Leopards every reason to press for more than a narrow win rather than sitting on one. Uzbekistan, meanwhile, have conceded eight goals across two matches and nothing in their defensive shape suggests that changes here. Expect the game to open up, particularly in the second half.
Uzbekistan’s debut and the bigger picture
This is the first FIFA World Cup Uzbekistan have ever played in. Finishing bottom of a group containing both Portugal and Colombia is harsh, but context matters. Reaching the tournament itself was the achievement. The Japan – Sweden preview from earlier in this final round of group games covers a similar situation, with one side chasing progress while the other faces an exit.
Third-place arithmetic is well worth watching across the tournament, with several sides in much the same position as DR Congo. Our Paraguay – Australia preview covers another Matchday 3 where it is very much alive.
Frequently asked questions
When does DR Congo vs Uzbekistan kick off?
23:30 GMT on 27 June 2026, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Who is the favourite?
Context points firmly to DR Congo. They have a point on the board, a draw against Portugal to their name, and everything to play for. Uzbekistan have struggled in both matches and arrive with nothing left in this tournament.
What is our main tip for this match?
DR Congo to win. They face a side with a leaky defence and nothing to play for, while they cannot afford anything less than three points. The over 2.5 goals market is worth a look too, given how freely Uzbekistan have shipped goals across this group stage.
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