This piece forms part of the Guardian 2026 World Cup Experts Network, linking leading media groups from the 48 qualified nations. theguardian.com shares previews of three teams daily ahead of the tournament start on 11 June.

The plan

Desabre has reshaped the side since 2022, a shift captured in his remark to Leopardsfoot that discipline starts on the pitch. The coach has added order to a squad once known for disarray. He functions more like an English-style manager, focusing on every detail from defensive shape to federation messaging. Results have followed.

Desabre began with a 4-2-3-1 but has shifted toward a tight 4-1-4-1. A deep-lying midfielder anchors the shape while two dynamic No 8s press and advance play, and striker Cédric Bakambu stretches the back line with constant runs.

The Leopards can also switch to a three-man defense, as seen in qualifiers versus Togo and South Sudan. Ball-playing centre-backs such as Axel Tuanzebe and Chancel Mbemba combine with wing-backs Arthur Masuaku and Aaron Wan-Bissaka to support a more attacking outlook.

Critics note limited open-play creation, yet the defense has grown very hard to penetrate. No Desabre-led full squad has lost by more than one goal so far. That resolve marked their path through qualifying, eliminating Cameroon late, beating Nigeria on penalties and overcoming Jamaica in extra time. Style has varied but mental strength has stayed constant.

The coach

Nicknamed Tatu Seba by fans, Sébastien Desabre took charge in 2022 after years coaching across Africa in Uganda, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Angola, Côte d'Ivoire and Cameroon. He left French Ligue 2 side Chamois Niortais for one of the continent's most gifted yet complex football nations. He told Afrik-Foot after qualification that DR Congo is a true football country where people love and take pride in the national team. Practical by outlook, Desabre values stability above all. Striker Cédric Bakambu says the coach has finally supplied a clear framework. Above all he has forged a cohesive group with a shared identity that the DRC had missed for years.

Star player

Yoane Wissa returns after skipping the Africa Cup of Nations to recover from a knee injury and will face intense pressure at the World Cup. Known as Kovo to supporters, the Newcastle striker became the first DRC player to score more than 10 Premier League goals in a season while at Brentford. Usually deployed from the left, Wissa blends speed, clever runs and tireless pressing. Injuries disrupted his debut campaign at Newcastle yet when fit he remains the Leopards' sharpest attacking threat and their leading global name.

One to watch

Ngal'ayel Mukau displays rare poise on the ball. The tall, technically polished Lille midfielder uses his left foot to glide past opponents with maturity beyond his 21 years. He wins possession, evades pressure, carries forward and accelerates attacks. Belgium sought to retain him but Mukau pledged early to the DRC and joins other promising Belgian-Congolese talents reshaping the national team. Already linked with clubs such as Barcelona, Mukau may emerge as one of Africa's standout midfielders.

Unsung hero

Samuel Moutoussamy rarely scores or assists yet remains central to the team. The midfielder powers Desabre's system through constant pressing, interceptions, positional cover and disciplined ball recycling. Dependable rather than flashy, he sets the tone with his work rate and commitment. Before the playoff versus Jamaica he told Leopardsfoot the side would leave everything on the pitch and could not play in fear. That outlook sums up the current Congolese group: tough, combative and driven.

Probable starting XI

What to expect from fans at games?

Visa rules and costs already made travel to the US tough for most Congolese supporters even before the recent Ebola outbreak. The team will therefore lean on its diaspora, especially in Texas and across North America. Congolese fans are famed across Africa for creating vibrant atmospheres wherever they gather. Expect dancing, singing, bold clothing, painted faces and nonstop energy. Football in Congo links closely to music and festivity, and supporters are known for wit and showmanship. Superfan Lumumba Vea, famous for standing with one arm raised throughout matches in tribute to Patrice Lumumba, saw his Mexico visa refused in March yet still hopes to attend after government help.

Relations with the US/Trump?

Ties are currently constructive as the Trump administration has sought, with uneven results, to mediate the eastern Congo conflict. In exchange the US has shown rising interest in Congo's mineral resources, a policy framed as peace for extraction. At the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington in February, Donald Trump called President Félix Tshisekedi a courageous and wonderful man while noting economic prospects in Congo. The link stays practical rather than warm. Ordinary Congolese fans still encounter major hurdles securing US visas for the World Cup.

Written by Louis Mukoma for Leopardsfoot.com.