World Cup
DR Congo Gets Favourable Draw as World Cup Dream Moves a Step Closer
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) has been handed a favourable draw that will see the African country playing just a match in the Intercontinental Play-Off or the 2026 World Cup qualification.
The team that edged Nigeria out can seize their moment after Thursday’s inter-confederation playoff draw placed them one win away from a historic qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
As one of the two seeded teams in the six-nation tournament, DR Congo advanced directly to the final of Pathway 1, where they will face either New Caledonia or Jamaica in March in Guadalajara or Monterrey, Mexico.
For Congolese fans still celebrating their dramatic victory over Nigeria in the African qualifying playoffs, the draw represents a realistic route to their first-ever World Cup appearance.
DR Congo defeated continental giants Nigeria 4–3 on penalties after a tense 1–1 draw, keeping alive their long-held ambition of reaching football’s biggest stage.
A Pathway Full of Possibilities
In Pathway 1, New Caledonia will face Jamaica in the semi-final, with the winner taking on DR Congo in the final. Jamaica, who failed to secure direct qualification after dropping crucial points against Curaçao, have been plunged into uncertainty following the resignation of head coach Steve McClaren. New Caledonia will be seeking a rare global breakthrough.
Observers say either opponent presents challenges, but Congo’s recent form and rising confidence give them an edge.
Momentum on Congo’s Side
Congo’s strong defensive organisation and ability to hold their nerve under pressure were on display during their playoff triumph over Nigeria. The squad also carries the motivation of a nation longing to return to global football relevance.
A DR Congo victory in March would mark an extraordinary milestone, ending decades of near-misses and disappointment in African World Cup qualifying history.
The Bigger Picture
The inter-confederation playoff tournament features six teams from CAF, AFC, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL and OFC. Seeded alongside DR Congo, Iraq progressed directly to the final of Pathway 2, where they will face the winner between Bolivia and Suriname. Iraq are attempting to qualify for their first World Cup since their 1986 debut.
A separate UEFA playoff draw was also conducted, with 16 European teams battling for four remaining spots.
Inter-Confederation Playoff Draw (From DR Congo’s Pathway)
PATHWAY 1
Semi-final: New Caledonia vs Jamaica
Final: DR Congo vs Winner of SF1
As March approaches, confidence is growing in Kinshasa and beyond. For DR Congo, the pathway is clear, the dream is alive — and history beckons.
The Trump administration will not require World Cup ticket holders from countries flagged for high rates of visa overstays to pay expensive bonds to enter the United States, a U.S. State Department official said on Wednesday.
The administration last year began requiring visitors from some countries to pay bonds of up to $15,000 to obtain tourist visas to the U.S., saying the steep deposit was needed to prevent visa overstays. Fifty countries are currently subject to the bond requirement, which was expanded this year.
Five of the 50 countries subject to the visa bonds qualified to participate in the World Cup: Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Tunisia.
Mora Namdar, the top official in the State Department’s consular affairs division, said the U.S. would waive the bond requirement for ticket-holding fans who had already registered through a special system to expedite their visa processing. Qualifying team members and staff can also have the bonds waived, Namdar said.
“We remain committed to strengthening U.S. national security priorities while facilitating legitimate travel for the upcoming World Cup tournament,” she said in a statement.
The Associated Press first reported the news.
The World Cup, one of the globe’s biggest sporting events, will be held in June and July this year across three countries – the United States, Canada and Mexico.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration crackdown has already cast a pall over the event and raised concerns about the presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.
Last year, masked federal agents surged into U.S. cities to track down immigration offenders and detained some tourists at airports.
The advocacy group Human Rights Watch , in late April, called on FIFA to press the U.S. government to establish an “ICE Truce” for the World Cup, including a public guarantee to refrain from immigration enforcement operations at games and venues.
DHS said at the time that international visitors travelling for the games “have nothing to worry about” if they have legal immigration status.
The U.S. launched a system in January to make it easier for World Cup ticket holders to obtain expedited visas. In order to have the bond requirement waived, ticket holders from affected countries must have registered in that system, known as FIFA PASS, by April 15.
-Reuters
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New Jersey’s public rail system is further dropping its World Cup ticket price from an original $150 per round trip to $98, the rail system provider said on Wednesday.
This NJ TRANSIT cut followed a reduction to $105 earlier in May.
The prices for the trip, which outraged World Cup fans both in the New York City area and from overseas, sparked much political comment, from local officials to U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer.
Local officials had complained that FIFA was going to earn billions from the event, while New Jersey taxpayers would be footing a huge bill for security, disrupted services and other game-related impacts.
“We were able to reduce costs while protecting NJ Transit’s daily customers and commuters from bearing the financial burden,” NJ Transit Chair Priya Jain said.
The price drop was possible because of additional advertising revenue, the agency said.
The tournament, co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico, starts on June 11.
-Reuters
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The White House refuted reports that the United States denied visas for five members of Iraq’s national team ahead of next month’s World Cup.
The State Department sent a statement on Wednesday to Front Office Sports in response to online reports involving five players, including Luton Town forward Ali Al-Hamadi.
“Currently, there are no known issues affecting the Iraq National Team players, and they remain on track to compete in the World Cup,” the statement reads. “We maintain daily communication with FIFA and will continue to prioritise these players in accordance with the President’s Executive Order, ensuring an incredible and safe tournament.”
The Iraqi Football Association also quashed the rumours that had circulated on social media on Tuesday.
“The news is false, and the truth is that all the national team players have obtained entry visas to America,” it said, per the Iraqi news site The New Region, adding that the players are also in the process of getting Canadian visas.
Iraq is in a tough Group I for this summer’s FIFA World Cup in North America, along with France, Senegal and Norway. Iraq is scheduled to play games in Foxborough, Mass. (June 16 vs. Norway), Philadelphia (June 22 vs. France) and in Toronto (June 26 vs. Senegal).
-Reuters
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