Daniel Munoz fired Colombia into the FIFA World Cup 2026™ knockout phase with a second-half winner in a 1-0 victory over Congo DR at Guadalajara Stadium on Tuesday 23 June.
Munoz’s 76th-minute strike settled a tight Group K contest and made it two wins from two for Colombia, a result that clinched their place in the Round of 32. Congo DR, beaten by the single goal, were left needing a win over Uzbekistan and help from other results to keep their tournament alive.
How Colombia broke through in Guadalajara
Congo DR signalled early intent when Edo Kayembe tried his luck from long range, but his effort sailed wide. After that, the first half largely belonged to Colombia, who repeatedly ran into a standout performance from goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi.
Mpasi denied Jhon Arias, and when the rebound fell invitingly, Munoz sent the follow-up into the side netting. Munoz then went close again, seeing a header saved before bundling in the rebound — only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.
Colombia continued to press, with Mpasi producing saves from James Rodriguez, Luis Diaz and Gustavo Puerta as the South Americans looked for a way through. Congo DR’s best moment of the half arrived late on, when Arthur Masuaku delivered a raking cross that narrowly evaded Yoane Wissa, who was inches away from connecting.
After the restart, Mpasi was quickly back in the spotlight, making himself big to thwart Diaz at close range. The rebound fell to Arias, but his shot through a crowded penalty area went wide, adding to Colombia’s growing frustration.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 76th minute. Munoz ended Mpasi’s resistance with a deflected strike, with the move sparked by intelligent hold-up play from substitute Jhon Cordoba.
Colombia had chances to extend the lead, but Diaz had two goals chalked off for offside. Congo DR pushed late in search of an equaliser, yet Colombia held firm to secure the win and confirm a top-two finish in Group K ahead of their meeting with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal.
Key stat and award
The goal continued Munoz’s strong tournament run: he has scored in successive World Cup 2026 games. Munoz was also named the Michelob Ultra Superior Player of the Match.
What the result means for Group K
Colombia’s 1-0 win ensured qualification for the Round of 32 with a game to spare, underlining their ability to grind out results even when clear chances are limited and offside calls intervene.
For Congo DR, the defeat leaves their path more complicated but not closed. They can still advance if they beat Uzbekistan and results elsewhere go their way.
What they said
Colombia coach Nestor Lorenzo said: “I want to thank the team for all their effort. Against teams like this, you have to find the spaces between the lines; if you stick too rigidly to a set play, they’ll counter-attack by exploiting those spaces. We’re very happy – we’re a team that takes the initiative, and we never give up on that approach. Thanks to everyone who came out to support us.”
Munoz, the match-winner, added: “We played with intensity and aggression, and we stuck to our style. This achievement belongs to the entire team; we earned these three points as a team and for all the fans who came out to support us. This victory gives us a morale boost. We don’t want to settle for this.”
Congo DR coach Sebastien Desabre said: “It was a difficult match for us. We played against a very good team. They were superior. First, we will recover. The next match will be here quickly. We’ll need to take risks. A draw will not be enough. We need to analyze ourselves now and move forward. We’ll be prepared against Uzbekistan. They have some great defenders.”