Colombia is through to the World Cup knockout stage after a hard-fought 1-0 win over DR Congo on Tuesday night, becoming one of the first Latin American teams to secure a place in the Round of 32.
Daniel Muñoz scored the only goal in the 76th minute, finally breaking through a stubborn DR Congo defense and an inspired performance from goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi. The win moved Colombia to six points from two matches in Group K, enough to guarantee qualification before its final group match against Portugal.
The result was not comfortable, but it was exactly the kind of win that serious tournament teams need. Colombia controlled long stretches of the match, created repeated chances and kept pushing after DR Congo spent much of the night defending deep and waiting for counterattacking openings.
Mpasi nearly turned the match into a frustrating draw for Colombia. He denied James Rodríguez early, stopped efforts from Jhon Arias and Luis Díaz, and helped keep the score level through a first half in which Colombia created most of the danger. Colombia had 15 shots by halftime, including six on target. Still, the breakthrough did not come until late in the second half, when Muñoz cut in from the right side of the penalty area and struck a shot that deflected off Steve Kapuadi before beating Mpasi.
For Muñoz, it was another major World Cup moment. The Crystal Palace right-back also scored in Colombia’s opening 3-1 win over Uzbekistan, giving him two goals in two matches and turning him into one of Colombia’s most important players in the group stage. Luis Díaz thought he had added a second goal later in the match, but the effort was ruled out for offside. Colombia also had another finish called back, leaving the score closer than the flow of the match suggested.
DR Congo had its own moments. The African side, coming off a 1-1 draw against Portugal, threatened through Edo Kayembe, Cedric Bakambu and Yoane Wissa. Wissa nearly changed the match in the 73rd minute, but his shot was blocked shortly before Colombia found the winner.
The loss leaves DR Congo on one point with one match remaining. It will likely need a win against Uzbekistan to keep its qualification hopes alive. Colombia’s focus now shifts to Portugal, which beat Uzbekistan 5-0 earlier Tuesday. The final Group K match will decide first place. A draw would be enough for Colombia to finish top of the group, while a defeat could leave Néstor Lorenzo’s team in second place.
That matters because of the expanded 48-team World Cup format. Group winners and runners-up advance automatically, along with the best third-place teams, but finishing first can offer a cleaner path in the knockout bracket. For Colombia, the bigger message is already clear. After missing the 2022 World Cup, Los Cafeteros are back in the knockout rounds and carrying real momentum. They have taken six points from six, scored four goals, conceded only once and shown they can win both open games and tight ones.
The performance was not perfect. Colombia should have finished more of its chances, and DR Congo showed that a compact defense can still frustrate Lorenzo’s side. But in tournament soccer, style matters less than survival. Colombia survived. More than that, it advanced with a match to spare.
For Latin America, it was another strong night in a tournament already filled with regional storylines. Argentina, Brazil and Mexico have all carried major expectations. Colombia, with its yellow-clad support and balanced team, now looks ready to be part of that conversation.
