By Kunle Solaja.

As controversy surrounds DR Congo’s participation in the intercontinental play-off for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the country’s coach, Sébastien Desabre, has declared that the entire nation will “come to a standstill” when the Leopards play their decisive qualification match later this month.

Nigeria have lodged a protest challenging the eligibility of the Central African side following their dramatic play-off clash, a dispute that could yet influence the outcome of the qualification race for the expanded 48-team tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Despite the off-field uncertainty, Desabre insists his team remain focused on securing their place at the global showpiece.

Speaking in an interview published on FIFA’s official website ahead of the play-off final in Guadalajara, Mexico, on March 31, the French tactician said his side were fully motivated to complete a long and demanding qualifying journey.

“We’re really fired up. We’re still on course to meet our main objective,” Desabre said. “This final will be our 13th match since our qualifying campaign began. It’s definitely been a long road to get here, and we’ve worked our way through every stage.”

The Leopards are chasing a historic return to the World Cup after a 52-year absence, having made their only appearance in 1974 when the country was still known as Zaire.

DR Congo players are looking forward to a historic return to the World Cup after a 52-year absence.

To secure qualification, DR Congo must defeat either Jamaica or New Caledonia in the play-off final, with the winner earning one of the last tickets to the 2026 tournament.

Desabre acknowledged the magnitude of the occasion but urged his players to remain composed despite the historic opportunity.

“We all want to go to the World Cup, but we can’t let our emotions get the better of us,” he said. “What matters is playing well, staying grounded and giving everything on the pitch to make Congo proud.”

The coach highlighted the unity within the squad as one of the team’s key strengths.

“The players share a strong bond on and off the pitch. Everyone is pulling in the same direction. Our forwards track back, our defenders push forward – we fight together like soldiers going into battle for our country.”

Desabre also pointed to the team’s defensive discipline during qualifying, having conceded just once in their last four matches, while maintaining attacking efficiency.

“We have talented players at top clubs, and everyone has bought into the project we’ve been building,” he added.

The DR Congo coach referenced the earlier play-off clash with Nigeria – a tense encounter decided on penalties after a 1-1 draw – as the type of performance his side must replicate in the final.

“We need to deliver the kind of performance we produced against Nigeria,” he said.

With qualification within touching distance, Desabre believes the match could become a defining moment for football in the Central African nation.

“The Congolese are passionate about football, and some people are going through difficult times,” he said. “I know the whole nation will come to a standstill on 31 March so they can watch the match. We hope we can give our fans the lift they deserve.”

For Desabre, guiding DR Congo to the World Cup would represent the culmination of more than three years of rebuilding.

“When I took the job, the team had hit a rough patch, but I believed in them from the start,” he said. “Now we are within touching distance of our goal.”

While the Leopards prepare for a warm-up match against Bermuda before travelling to Mexico, attention in African football circles remains divided between the upcoming play-off final and Nigeria’s protest, which questions whether DR Congo were eligible to take part in the decisive stage of the qualification process.

The outcome of that dispute could ultimately determine whether the Leopards’ dream of returning to the World Cup for the first time in more than half a century becomes a reality.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

Iran’s football federation is in discussions with FIFA about moving their World Cup matches ​from the United States to Mexico due ‌to concerns about the safety of their players, Iranian football president Mehdi Taj said on Monday.

Iran’s sports ​minister said last week it was not ​possible for the Iranian players to participate ⁠in the tournament after the U.S. launched airstrikes ​alongside Israel against Tehran, killing the Islamic Republic’s ​supreme leader.

U.S. President Donald Trump has said Iran were welcome to participate but suggested it might not be ​appropriate for them to play in the ​U.S. “for their own life and safety”.

“When (U.S. President Donald) Trump has ‌explicitly ⁠stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel to America,” said Taj in a ​post on the ​Iranian ⁠embassy in Mexico’s X account.

“We are negotiating with FIFA to hold Iran’s ​World Cup matches in Mexico.”

Iran has ​qualified for ⁠the 48-team tournament to be held in the U.S., Canada and Mexico from June 11 and ⁠are ​scheduled to play two ​group matches in Los Angeles and one in Seattle

-Reuters

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

Neymar was left out of the latest Brazil squad named by coach Carlo Ancelotti on Monday for this month’s ​friendlies, as the five-time world champions continue their preparations for the 2026 ‌World Cup.

Brazil are set to play France on March 26 in Boston and Croatia on March 31 in Orlando ahead of the tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Neymar’s absence comes after ​the 34-year-old missed a recent game for Santos FC due to muscle ​fatigue, a match which Ancelotti had planned to assess him in person during a scouting ⁠trip ahead of the squad announcement.

Neymar, Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals, has ​not played for the national team since suffering a serious knee injury in October ​2023 and has struggled to maintain a consistent run of matches since returning to Santos last year.

“Neymar can be at the World Cup if he’s 100%,” Ancelotti told reporters on Monday after announcing his ​squad. “I didn’t call him up because he’s not 100%. Neymar has to be training ​and playing.”

Neymar, at a Kings League event in Sao Paulo on Monday, said that he was ‌disappointed and ⁠sad about being left out.

“But I remain focused, day after day, training session after training session, match after match. We will achieve our goal. The dream continues.”

Ancelotti has called up 19-year-old Endrick, who returns to international action for the first time in almost a ​year, and handed a ​first call-up to ⁠Brentford’s Igor Thiago as Brazil look to refresh their attacking options.

Brazil will play another friendly against Egypt in June before beginning their ​Group C World Cup campaign against Morocco on June 13.

Brazil squad:

Goalkeepers: ​Alisson (Liverpool), Bento (Al-Nassr), ⁠Ederson (Fenerbahce)

Defenders: Wesley (AS Roma), Alex Sandro (Flamengo), Douglas Santos (Zenit St Petersburg), Marquinhos (Paris St Germain), Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal), Bremer (Juventus), Danilo (Flamengo), Ibanez (Al-Ahli), Leo Pereira (Flamengo)

Midfielders: Andrey Santos (Chelsea), Casemiro (Manchester United), Danilo (Botafogo), Fabinho (Al-Ittihad), Gabriel Sara (Galatasaray)

Forwards: Endrick (Olympique Lyonnais), Igor ⁠Thiago (Brentford), ​Luiz Henrique (Zenit St Petersburg), Rayan (Bournemouth), Joao Pedro (Chelsea), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), ​Matheus Cunha (Manchester United), Raphinha (Barcelona), Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid)

-Reuters

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H