The 2026 World Cup will set records regardless, as the first 48-team iteration of the competition. In conjunction, the tournament will provide exposure to talented national teams and stars from all around the world who otherwise wouldn’t have a chance to thrive on a truly global stage. For the first time, at least nine African and six North American teams will qualify, with each continent having the chance to add another to the field.
Tonight, one of DR Congo and Jamaica will snap a long World Cup drought, as Les Léopards haven’t participated in the competition since they were known as Zaire in 1974 and the Reggae Boyz haven’t competed since 1998. The winner of the 5 p.m. ET (3 p.m. local) match in Guadalajara will join Group K alongside Portugal, Colombia, and Uzbekistan.
Given that DR Congo and Jamaica have never played each other, have few common opponents, and have both underwhelmed relative to their potential, this could be a pretty difficult match to break down. Since picking the winner is already a semi-blind stab, I figured I might as well go for a true long-shot and offer an exact score.
Les Léopards are -115 favorites to win on DraftKings Sportsbook, with a draw available at +220. The Reggae Boyz are +370.
DR Congo vs. Jamaica Correct Score Pick
On paper, the Reggae Boyz have a plenty strong attack, but their players certainly aren’t clicking right now. Leon Bailey has been disappointing this season, not finding the back of the net since June 20, when he scored a 41st-minute goal against lowly Guadeloupe in last summer’s CONCACAF Gold Cup. Jamaica also scored just once in its November qualification games against Trinidad and Tobago and Curaçao to crash out of the World Cup automatic places. The country’s football federation then appointed Rudolph Spied to replace Steve McLaren, but his attack hasn’t been much better, as the Reggae Boyz scored just once against New Caledonia — which sports a mostly amateur side — on Thursday.
With Jamaica’s offense so out of sorts, I can’t see it getting anything past DR Congo, which held African giants Senegal to just one goal during the Africa Cup of Nations. Les Léopards have plenty of defensive talent, including two regular Premier League starters in West Ham’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka — who should be plenty familiar with marking Bailey — and Sunderland wunderkind Noah Sadiki. Plus, Wan-Bissaka and Sadiki are both capable of building from the back, giving DR Congo one of the most well-rounded squads on the continent. With Yoane Wissa — who finished sixth in the Premier League last season in goals — back after missing AFCON with a knee injury, it’d be a surprise if Les Léopards didn’t put two past the shaky Andre Blake, who doesn’t face strong competition in the MLS.
