Colombia vs DR Congo – Predictions and Odds – 2026 World Cup (24/06/2026)

The clash between Colombia and DR Congo will be played at the Akron Stadium in Guadalajara on Tuesday 23rd at 20:00 local time (04:00 in Spain). The bookmakers are positioning themselves clearly in favour of the South Americans, but after what was seen on the opening matchday, I believe the match will be much closer than the odds suggest.

Colombia have their qualification on track

Colombia defeated Uzbekistan 3-1 on the opening matchday, putting their passage to the knockout stage firmly on track. In fact, just a single point more would practically guarantee qualification, as 4 points would ensure they finish among the best third-placed teams.

Evidently, Nestor Lorenzo’s side will want to finish top of the group, something that would ease their path through the knockout rounds. However, it is also important to bear in mind that securing qualification as early as possible could influence their approach to the match.

In their debut they achieved the victory, although leaving some doubts. After taking an early lead, they allowed Uzbekistan to grow into the match and eventually find the equalizer. It was not until stoppage time when they sealed the definitive 3-1 scoreline, in the very last action of the clash.

We saw a Colombia side struggling to build play and maintain a high tempo for long periods. Luis Suárez went unnoticed in attack, James Rodríguez was far from his best form, and they did not convey great defensive solidity either.

The Africans caused an upset

DR Congo have been one of the surprises of the World Cup so far after drawing against Portugal in their opener. The Congolese had not featured in a World Cup since 1974, when the country was still called Zaire.

Their match against Portugal was highly disciplined. They defended with order, closed down spaces, and managed to make the Portuguese feel uncomfortable for a large part of the encounter. The final 1-1 draw leaves them in a very favourable position to fight for a place in the round of 32.

Furthermore, on the final matchday they will face Uzbekistan, who are the weakest team in the group based on the level seen in the first match and what the odds indicate. Therefore, anything they manage to pick up against Colombia will have immense value. Even a draw could leave them in a highly advantageous situation regarding qualification, especially considering they will know a good portion of the third-placed teams’ scores by the time the final matchday arrives.

Colombia vs DR Congo Prediction

The bookmakers consider Colombia heavy favourites, but I do not entirely agree. On the opening matchday, I did not see the Cafeteros particularly comfortable against an opponent that granted them far more space than they are likely to find in this match.

On the contrary, DR Congo competed very well with their weapons. They defended with discipline, closed passing lanes, and were able to break with pace when they recovered the ball. I expect a very similar game plan against Colombia, something that could cause plenty of problems for a team that struggles to attack without space.

Moreover, the group presents a qualification scenario that could be important in this match. Colombia know that a draw leaves them with one foot and a half in the next round, while for the Africans it would not be a bad result either, having a highly favourable final match on paper ahead of them.

This does not mean they will come out to play for a draw from the start. However, if the match remains level heading into the final stretch, I do believe both teams may value retaining the point more than taking excessive risks in search of the win.

I expect a more fiercely contested and balanced match than the current odds reflect, with a DR Congo side capable of staying in the game. For this reason, my favourite bet is the Asian handicap +1 in favour of the Africans, a line that seems to offer considerable value given the context of the match and what was shown by both sides on the opening matchday.