Predictions
Colombia 1-0 DR Congo: Daniel Muñoz Sends the Cafeteros Into the Knockouts
Colombia needed patience and one moment of quality. Daniel Muñoz provided it 14 minutes from time as the Cafeteros edged DR Congo 1-0 in Guadalajara to reach the knockout rounds and stay top of Group K.
For 75 minutes Colombia pushed, probed and were repelled. Then Daniel Muñoz found the breakthrough. The Crystal Palace full-back’s deflected strike in the 76th minute settled a tense Group K contest in Guadalajara and gave Colombia a 1-0 win over DR Congo — a result that books their place in the knockout rounds of the 2026 World Cup.
How it unfolded
This was a night of attrition. Colombia dominated possession and territory, piling up roughly 20 efforts on goal, but ran into an inspired DR Congo goalkeeper. Lionel Mpasi kept the Congolese level with a string of saves, turning the Estadio Guadalajara into a wall the Cafeteros could not break for three-quarters of the match.
The release valve finally came on 76 minutes. Muñoz, a constant outlet down the right, got a shot away that took a deflection on its way in for his second goal of the tournament. Colombia almost doubled the lead late through Luis Díaz, who twice had the ball in the net in the closing stages — once chalked off for a foul in the build-up and once for offside — but the single goal was enough.
What it means
The win lifts Colombia to six points and keeps them top of Group K, confirming qualification for the Round of 32 — the expanded tournament’s first knockout phase. It sets up a final-day showdown with Portugal, who also have six points after their 5-0 rout of Uzbekistan, with top spot in the group on the line.
For DR Congo, defeat leaves their hopes hanging by a thread. Mpasi’s heroics kept them competitive, and they will need a result against Uzbekistan on the final matchday to keep any qualification dream alive.
Bottom line
Colombia did not have it all their own way, but quality told in the end. A deflected Muñoz strike, a goalkeeper who almost stole a point, and a Cafeteros side through to the knockouts with a game to spare — and now eyeing first place in a heavyweight Group K decider. For how the matchup was framed beforehand, see our Colombia vs DR Congo preview, and the full day’s results in our June 23 recap.
Result, scorer and group context are per the FIFA match centre and multiple major outlets (Sky Sports, ESPN, Al Jazeera). This report contains only confirmed facts and no estimated scores.