Perhaps more than any sport in the world, football is truly global, and nowhere is that more clear than at the FIFA World Cup, where every four years, the world’s best get a chance to face off. With the 2026 edition featuring a new, expanded 48-team format, many teams have broken lengthy World Cup droughts.
DR Congo hasn’t qualified since 1974, when it was known as Zaire, and Jamaica hasn’t since 1998, but one of those streaks will be come to an end when they face off at 5 p.m. ET (3 p.m. local) in Guadalajara, Mexico. The winner will join Group K at this summer’s tournament, a manageable group that includes Portugal, Colombia, and Uzbekistan.
Les Léopards are -115 favorites to win at DraftKings Sportsbook, and the Reggae Boyz are +360. There are +215 odds that the tie will go into extra time.
DR Congo vs. Jamaica prediction, pick
DR Congo secured its spot in this match long ago. Its second-place finish in Group B of CAF qualification was enough to advance to the four-team continental playoff in November, where it took down Cameroon 1-0 in the semifinals and managed to beat Nigeria on penalties to claim Africa’s lone Intercontinental Playoffs spot. Because Les Léopards were the highest-ranked of the six to qualify for the Intercontinental Playoffs (No. 48), they advanced automatically to the path final, while Jamaica had to go through New Caledonia. The Reggae Boyz underwhelmed against Les Cagous, ranked 150th, but they managed to pull out a 1-0 victory in the end. Their form hasn’t been convincing over the last several months, but all that matters is the 90 minutes later today.
DR Congo has an extremely well-rounded squad. During African qualifying, Real Betis striker Cédric Bukambu led the team with four goals, but Newcastle United man Yoane Wissa and Spartak Moscow’s Theo Bongoda each managed three. Les Léopards underwhelmed somewhat during the Africa Cup of Nations without Wissa, failing to score against Algeria and suffering a Round of 16 defeat, but a draw in the group stage against eventual winners Senegal was impressive. All in all, DR Congo had the 13th-best attack on the continent during qualification and uncorked the eighth-most shots per 90 minutes during AFCON. Les Léopards backed their front five up with a strong defense, conceding just six goals during qualification and allowing the ninth-fewest shots on target per 90 minutes during AFCON. Between captain Chancel Mbemba, who plays for Lille, West Ham right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and Sunderland youngster Noah Sadiki, they have among the best collections of defensive talent in Africa. Plus, goalkeeper Lionel Mpazu was downright heroic during the continental playoff final, saving two Nigerian penalties to see his team through to tonight’s match, and he’s been solid in limited action for Ligue 1’s Le Havre.
Jamaica shouldn’t be completely underestimated, though. The Reggae Boyz rank a solid 70th in the world, just 22 places below DR Congo, and the squad’s combined market value is more than one-third Les Léopards’. On its best day, Jamaica has one of the world’s most well-rounded attacks, as 10 different players found the back of the net at least once in CONCACAF qualifying. During North American competition, the Reggae Boyz were strong on both sides of the ball, scoring the seventh-most goals and allowing the second-fewest among teams who advanced to the third round. However, they weren’t particularly clutch, drawing their final two games of qualification to 102nd-ranked Trinidad and Tobago and 82nd-ranked Curaçao, and conceding five shots and two corners against mostly-amateur New Caledonia isn’t very impressive. Jamaica still has Aston Villa’s Leon Bailey to lead the line and long-time captain Andre Blake between the sticks, but those players are in rough form. Bailey hasn’t scored for either club or country since June 20, 2025, when he managed a 41st-minute goal against hapless Guadeloupe, and the 35-year-old Blake has been one of the worst shot-stoppers in the MLS this season.
On paper, both of these teams have higher potential than what they’ve shown on the pitch, but there’s more pressure on the Reggae Boyz, given their easier competition. Two draws and a narrow win against weak opposition simply isn’t sufficient for them to convince me that they can pull off an upset against a team that has twice drawn with Senegal and once beaten Mali, another defensively sound Sahel side that made a deep run during AFCON. Wissa hasn’t been in favor as of late with the Magpies, but it wasn’t long ago that he finished sixth in the Premier League in goals. With Wissa now in the front line and several depth pieces returning to the defense, expecting a 1-0 or 2-0 result for DR Congo seems reasonable.
