Colombia became one of the first teams to book a place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 after grinding out a hard-fought 1-0 victory over DR Congo in Group K. While the scoreline suggested a close contest, the South Americans controlled large portions of the match and could easily have won by a bigger margin.
However, one man kept DR Congo alive for most of the evening. Goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi delivered a stunning performance that briefly threatened to derail Colombia's plans.
The victory leaves Colombia with six points from two matches and firmly in control of their own destiny heading into the final group game.
Daniel Munoz continued his impressive World Cup campaign by scoring the decisive goal in the second half. (X/@brfootball) Daniel Munoz delivers once again
Crystal Palace defender Daniel Munoz continued his impressive World Cup campaign by scoring the decisive goal in the second half.
After several missed opportunities and repeated saves from Mpasi, Munoz finally found a breakthrough in the 76th minute. Receiving support from Jhon Cordoba near the edge of the box, his effort took a deflection that wrong-footed the goalkeeper before nestling into the net.
It was Munoz's second goal of the tournament and another reminder of how important he has become to Colombia's attacking setup.
Colombia had already dominated possession and created a host of opportunities before eventually being rewarded.
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Had it not been for Lionel Mpasi, the result could have been far more one-sided. (X/@brfootball) Lionel Mpasi almost single-handedly denied Colombia
Had it not been for Lionel Mpasi, the result could have been far more one-sided.
The DR Congo goalkeeper was exceptional from the opening whistle, making several outstanding saves to frustrate Colombia's forwards. In the opening 20 minutes alone, he produced five saves, a rare feat at a World Cup.
Luis Diaz, James Rodriguez, Johan Mojica and Munoz all tested him throughout the contest.
Even after Colombia eventually scored, Mpasi remained composed and ensured his side stayed within touching distance until the final whistle.
His performance has quickly become one of the standout goalkeeping displays of the tournament.
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Group K battle remains open behind Colombia
The result secures Colombia's place in the Round of 32, but the fight for the remaining qualification spot is far from over.
Portugal sits on four points and will face Colombia in a decisive encounter to determine who tops Group K.
Meanwhile, DR Congo still has a realistic chance of progressing. Victory against Uzbekistan in their final match would likely be enough to send them into the knockout stages in what is their first World Cup appearance in decades.
For Colombia, the bigger challenge now begins. Their attack is flowing, their confidence is soaring, and they have once again emerged as one of the tournament's most entertaining teams.
After years of flattering to deceive on the world stage, the South Americans are beginning to look like genuine contenders.
