DRC: Leopards celebrated as heroes after historic qualification for the 2026 World Cup

For their grand return to the global stage, the players of the Democratic Republic of Congo were welcomed as heroes in Kinshasa after their qualification for the 2026 World Cup, the first since 1974. Thousands of supporters gathered to celebrate this significant event that ends over fifty years of waiting. President Félix Tshisekedi praised the players and recalled his commitment to them, promising that the Congolese people and government would do everything they asked.